You may know about Kids Help Phone’s phone and text e-mental health services. But did you know we’re more than a helpline? And that we’re not just about kids and phones?
Kids Help Phone also offers a mental health website with over 400 resources including videos, games and tools to help young people learn more about their well-being and Feel Out Loud. It’s also a space where folks can join our movement in support of youth mental health across Canada.
On this page, you can discover what’s available in our content library, who creates the pieces, what our processes are and more to help you gain a better understanding of the resources you might use to support yourself.
You may know about Kids Help Phone’s phone and text e-mental health services. But did you know we’re more than a helpline? And that we’re not just about kids and phones?
Kids Help Phone also offers a mental health website with over 400 resources including videos, games and tools to help young people learn more about their well-being and Feel Out Loud. It’s also a space where folks can join our movement in support of youth mental health across Canada.
On this page, you can discover what’s available in our content library, who creates the pieces, what our processes are and more to help you gain a better understanding of the resources you might use to support yourself.
What can I find on Kids Help Phone’s mental health website?
Kids Help Phone’s evidence-based (well-researched) website is an online space for people’s feelings to go. This means we share credible mental health tips and tools so folks can get the support they’re searching for in their own way (and without having to actually communicate with someone).
You can visit Kids Help Phone’s website any time you’d like, from anywhere in the world, using a device with an internet connection, at KidsHelpPhone.ca. You can explore our resources on your own or with a friend, family / community member, teacher or someone else you trust.
You can spend time on our mental health website to search for content at your own pace, including:
quizzes, games, tools and activities to help youth build and practise skills to address life’s challenges
mental health tips, articles and guides to help youth explore their feelings and increase their mental health literacy (while decreasing stigma)
a collection of real-life stories to help promote self-acceptance and a sense of belonging / connection
data insights and reminders you’re never alone to help reduce any distress youth may be experiencing (e.g. feelings of isolation, anxiety, sadness, etc.)
contact details for national and community-based support programs and services
supportive resources to help people cope with current issues, news and events (Kids Help Phone monitors, researches and offers tailored content if / when possible)
profiles on leaders, professional counsellors and trained, volunteer crisis responders
resources for caring adults to help support the young people in their lives
ways to get involved at Kids Help Phone (e.g. donate, volunteer, participate in events, etc.)
links to our official social media accounts, including YouTube
a chatbot to help folks navigate the site / content library
special features to help people interact with content (e.g. buttons to have a web page read aloud, printed, shared and hidden quickly, etc.)
general information about our organization (e.g. history, publications, careers, etc.)
our privacy policy (including how we use data), accessibility plan and terms of service
Who is this mental health website for?
Kids Help Phone’s website is for everyone in Canada. You’re welcome here regardless of your culture, background, gender identity, sexual orientation, legal status, whether or not you have a mental health diagnosis, etc. You don’t need a username, password, credit card, ID, Canadian citizenship, health insurance or anything else to use the resources on our site.
While we primarily support young people, adults can use the resources on our site and get support by texting 741741 to connect with a trained volunteer crisis responder.
Is Kids Help Phone’s mental health website available 24/7?
Kids Help Phone’s website (along with most of our services) is available every day and night of the year (even on weekends and holidays!). We’d also like to let you know that, like any other digital service, our site may be temporarily unavailable from time to time. This could be due to maintenance, a disruption or another issue. If we can, we’ll let you know what’s going on in an alert at the top of our site and / or on our social media channels.
If our website is down and you need support right away, you can try one of our other services (e.g. call 1-800-668-6868, text 686868, etc.). An idea is to save our contact numbers in a safe / private place so you can know where to find them.
Who manages content on Kids Help Phone’s mental health website?
The Story Studio, Kids Help Phone’s house of creative storytelling, powers our mental health website for young people and adults in Canada. We combine storytelling, technology and vibrant voices to create empowering, multimedia content.
People supporting The Story Studio include:
How does Kids Help Phone develop content?
The Story Studio takes actions to help ensure content on our mental health website is responsible, respectful, empowering, informative and accurate.
To help maintain our high standards, we:
use internal / external data and our mission, vision and values to decide how to prioritize content
clinically review and fact check content to help ensure it reflects the latest research
have a trusted editor approve content using our organizational style guidelines
publish content at a reading level geared to youth (usually a Grade 6 to Grade 8 reading level)
consult with the National Youth Council, Indigenous Advisory Council and Black Advisory Council at Kids Help Phone and other internal / external subject matter experts whenever possible
create content with and for equity-deserving groups (including collaborating with organizations who support Black, Indigenous, newcomer and 2SLGBTQ+ communities)
include content warnings on certain resources (often about more sensitive topics)
complete regular reviews to help ensure existing content is optimized for current data, trends, events and best practices
work with translators to develop content in English, French and other languages (and improve upon the ways we produce culturally sensitive content in multiple languages to preserve accuracy and quality as best we can)
research, apply and test the layout, structure and design of our site so it’s more engaging, easier to use and as accessible as possible for everyone who visits
maintain our site to help ensure it’s as secure and fast as possible
What kind of language does Kids Help Phone use in content?
Language is always evolving, including Kids Help Phone’s terminology. We follow the latest research in mental health to help ensure the way we communicate is current. This means the words we use may change over time, and you may notice differences or inconsistencies as we work to update all of our content. We respect young people and encourage them to use the terms that feel best for them and their own experiences, too.
Wherever possible, Kids Help Phone aims to use language that’s:
non-judgmental and supportive of youth as the experts of their own lives and safety
short, clear and easy to understand
compliant with Canadian Press Style (for journalistic best practices)
centred on people and considerate of their identities (sometimes called person-first and identity-first language)
gender neutral
accessible and non-ableist
respectful of equity-deserving groups (e.g. 2SLGBTQ+ youth, Black youth, Indigenous youth, newcomers, etc.)
unbiased in things such as religion, politics, etc.
empowering, human and empathic
What if I have a content question, concern or suggestion?
While we strive to offer visitors the best experience possible, sometimes, accidents happen. And that’s OK — we’re all humans here, aiming to do our best! You may come across things such as a broken link, a typo, a missing image or another issue from time to time. If you notice something on our mental health website you’d like to bring to our attention, including a content idea / recommendation you’d like to share, you can contact us. We’ll always aim to get back to you as soon as we can. And try to remember that, no matter what, you’re not alone and can still get support by connecting with us.
