Texting teens use SMS for help

Base 25, A UK charity offering advice on subjects such as relationship and health issues is using text messages to communicate with teenagers, reports the BBC

"Text Talk allows troubled youngsters to send a text to a dedicated number and receive an immediate response.

The main issues young people are contacting Base 25 about are health information, relationship dilemmas and sexuality. And boys seem particularly drawn to the service.

"As a general trend we have noticed more boys using the service and that may be because text messaging enables anonymity which makes it easy for them to ask for help," said Mr Willoughby.

Related article: Text service brings health message to youth - Encouraged by the success of a confidential scheme introduced in February in Melbourn and Harston (UK), South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust (NHS) has extended it to Linton and Sawston. By contacting the Health Text-Messaging service anonymously, 11 to 16-year-olds can get advice on sexual health, drugs, alcohol and even relationships

emily | 12:35 PM | Health Issues and SMS Alerts |
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