Digital Smarts - NYC Texting Hotline for Teens With Mental Health Issues Debuts

A new texting hotline will help teenagers get help dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The program, launched by NYC Teen, will be piloted at 10 high schools in New York City. Students can text "NYC Teen" to 65173 to receive "prompt, confidential information and emotional support on issues ranging from feeling sad or hopeless, to depression," according to a press release from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The program will be available Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 1 to 9 p.m. A 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 27 percent of public high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks—and only 18 percent received help from a counselor. This program’s goal is to provide an easier way for kids to ask for help.