Textual activity at Youthline (NZ).

Abstract

At Youthline (NZ), the phones hardly ring anymore. Young people still have problems and are still helped, but the help mostly happens silently. This article addresses what happens when interactions with a crisis helpline service shift into the medium of text messaging. In asking what happens following the move to such spaces, it is hoped that a more fundamental question might then be addressed: Is this change for the good? In undertaking a qualitative study involving data analysis of some 6000 texted interactions received and sent by Youthline, and augmenting this data with interviews of those who had engaged with Youthline through text, this article argues that emotional support provided by text is neither good nor bad, but simply different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)