15 Jan 2023

Youth crisis helpline braced for influx of callers anxious about school return

5:50 pm on 15 January 2023
woman on mobile phone

Photo: freestocks / Unsplash

A youth crisis helpline is expecting an influx of calls from students anxious about returning to school.

Ban Algailani from What's Up said during the holidays the agency's five to 19-year-old callers want to talk about family relationship issues, because they were spending more time at home.

But she said from mid-January to early February their concerns turn towards the upcoming school year.

Ban Algailani said calls for help with mental help have increased since 2020, when the pandemic began.