Canadian youth increasingly text for overnight mental health help

More young people in Canada are turning to textbased mental health support during the night, according to Kids Help Phone, a free 24hour service for children and teens. The organization said latenight text conversations rose 24% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. In Vancouver, overnight text chats between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. climbed to just over 2,817 from about 1,929, a 46% increase. Volunteers and mental health leaders say teens often reach out at night when they are processing stress, anxiety, loneliness and relationship problems, and when fewer other supports are available. They also note that social media pressures, uncertainty about the future and concerns about artificial intelligence, jobs and housing can add to young people’s distress. Mental health experts say the increase in helpseeking is encouraging, while warning that AI tools should not replace trained human support in crises.