Record numbers seek Youthline support

A record number of distressed young people sought help from Youthline over Christmas.

Telephone calls to the nationwide counselling service rose 70 per cent to 1437 in the two weeks up to December 29.

During the same period last year, 858 calls were made. Text messages were up more than 50 per cent from 4102 to 6352.

Youthline chief executive Stephen Bell said the figures suggested a significant level of distress among young people.

He had not expected such a big increase, and the recession and increasing unemployment among young people could be to blame, he said.

Young people were already going through a period of change with hormones, growth and social issues, but when the environment around them changed as well it added another layer of concern, Bell said.

This time of year could also be difficult as young people had expectations placed on them over the new educational year, and many could be leaving home, he said. "Others will be starting work or may be commencing a long, hard and dispiriting search for employment. In any of these situations, it's easy to be overcome with worry and self-doubt."

Calls received on Christmas Day covered self-harm, eating disorders, relationships (particularly with family), friendships, loneliness and the loss of friends.

Youthline is staffed around the clock with seven to 12 volunteers and paid clinical staff. It has a pool of 700 volunteers to answer phone calls and text messages.

The volunteers are based at seven centres throughout New Zealand, including Christchurch.

About 35 per cent of calls over Christmas were from people aged between 19 and 24. Another 35 per cent were from teenagers and the remainder were from people aged over 25, mainly parents.

Bell said he hoped the number of calls would drop now that Christmas was over. "Hopefully everyone goes and has fun at the beach."

As Youthline hoped calls would fall, the Quitline call service was expecting a surge of calls in January as smokers resolved to quit for the new year.

Quitline chief executive Paula Snowden said quitting was for life, not just for New Year.

She encouraged people to make a plan, get help and understand why they smoked.

In January this year, nearly 7000 people signed up to quit smoking with Quitline.

- © Fairfax NZ News