Chirlane McCray Unveils 'NYC Teen Text' Program To Give Teens Easy Access To Counselors
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City first lady Chirlane McCray has unveiled a more modern take on the teen helpline.
"NYC Teen Text, a pilot program launched Monday at 10 high schools, allows teens easy and confidential access to a counselor," McCray said.
"Our goal is to meet teens where they are -- where they are is on their phones," she said.
McCray's daughter, Chiara de Blasio, who has been open about her fight with depression and addiction, said the new program reaches teens not yet ready to talk about their issues with parents or friends.
"With the launch of NYC Teen Text, the only thing separating high school students from the help they need is the send button," de Blasio said.
"If you're hurting, talk about it. If you don't want to live in pain anymore, you don't have to," she added.
NYC Teen Text is available to students at these schools:
• High School for Environmental Studies
• Stuyvesant High School
• High School For Mathematics
• Science And Engineering At City College
• Bronx High School of Science
• Brooklyn Technical High School
• Millennium Brooklyn High School
• Townsend Harris High School
• Robert F. Kennedy Community High School
• Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School
• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.
Counselors can be reached by texting "NYC Teen" to 65173.
The program is available Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.