High demand for new online counselling service

12 February 2015

High demand for new online counselling service

The 0800 What’s Up online counselling pilot for young New Zealander’s is exceeding expectations with demand doubling since its launch last October.

The service is the first of its kind in New Zealand and is a response to the changing needs of young people and their preferred method of gaining support.

0800 What’s Up counsellors have completed over 1400 online chat sessions since the launch of the pilot. 0800 What’s Up Manager Rhonda Morrison says the service needs more resources to manage demand as almost half (42%) of children who want to chat to a counsellor online do not get their chat answered.

“More than 95% of our funding comes from individuals and businesses who know how important it is for children to have someone to talk to. We are looking for ongoing funding to continue the online chat service beyond the pilot phase” Rhonda says.

The majority of issues being presented online involved mental health concerns or situations of abuse or family violence. But it is not just the serious issues that children and young people talk to counsellors about.

“At 0800 What’s Up there is no issue too big or too small for young people to speak with our trained counsellors about” Rhonda adds.

The online chat is free and accessible from 7pm-11pm via www.whatsup.co.nz.

For more information contact: Maia Poananga, maia.poananga@barnardos.org.nz

About 0800 What’s Up

0800 What's Up is a free, national phone counselling service for five to 18 year olds. It’s open 365 days a year from 1pm-11pm, and in an average year answers more than 80,000 calls – in fact, it’s the most accessed professional telephone counselling service for children and young people in New Zealand. More than 95% of the helpline’s funding comes through the generosity of New Zealanders who want to make a difference to children’s lives. To support 0800 What’s Up, visit www.whatsup.co.nz/grown-ups

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