Young NZers leading world with text counselling

Ailsa Haxell. Photo / Supplied

Youthline is taking more than 18,000 texts a month from people seeking counselling help.

And the organisation is grateful a High-Flyers award given to it last year by Cathay Pacific and the Herald on Sunday has allowed it to understand the benefits of counselling via new technologies.

Youthline New Zealand counsellor Ailsa Haxell attended a conference in Belgium in May. She said it was a great experience and urged other community groups to apply for the 2010 NZ Community Awards, which opened today and close on October 22.

Haxell said Youthline was the only organisation in the world that offered text counselling.

"Other ones are just giving out pre-paid messages," she said. "It's hard to reach out and ask for counselling but to be able to do it so easily with a mobile and get feedback instantly is really helpful for young people. Kids can get help privately on their own mobile, from anywhere.

"If they decide to run away from home and need to talk, they have all the resources on them to contact us ... a mobile is something they always have."

Haxell's return flights were funded by Cathay Pacific and the Herald on Sunday as part of the annual community awards, which support groups struggling with funding.

Since returning from Belgium, Haxell has been teaching people how to text-counsel in less than 160 characters.

Cathay Pacific marketing service manager Ian Herald said six community groups won awards each year.