April 26, 2016
Youthline health service threatened
A health service that helps rangatahi Maori, homeless and other vulnerable youth on the margins is set to close unless $50,000 is found in the next fortnight.
Youthline chief executive Stephen Bell says the Youth Health Service was created to breakdown the barriers young people face when seeking assistance with health problems.
He says almost half seek treatment for physical health concerns, a quarter need support for sexual health issues, and 14 percent need help for mental health conditions.
Issues which can prevent youth from seeking treatment in traditional services including inability to relate to the health care provider, ability to pay for a consult or prescription or the necessary transport to get there.
Health funders have indicated their priority is general practice and school based services, and there's not enough left over for Youthline.
To try to raise the money, Youthline has created a text-to-donate line where anyone wanting to make a $3 donation can do so by texting “YHS” to 4499 or visit www.youthline.co.nz/donate-
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