SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Access: Supports for Living has launched a free, confidential text line to support youth struggling with mental health and substance use challenges, bullying, self-harm, homelessness, problems at home, relationship issues/violence, divorce, physical health and more.

Teens aged 12 and up can text 845/637-9486 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They’ll contact trained community members, who can listen, respond and connect the teens to community resources.

Sullivan Text for Teens addresses an urgent need for mental health services and support for youth in Sullivan County.

In partnership with Sullivan County, Sullivan 180, and numerous community partners, Sullivan Text for Teens will remove barriers by connecting mental health supports to young people through a familiar, comfortable communication tool—texting.  

“While one in five teens across our communities live with a mental health condition, 70 percent of teens don’t receive the support they need,” said Ron Colavito, CEO and president of Access: Supports for Living. “Sullivan Text for Teens represents a necessary, community-wide effort to destigmatize conversations [about] mental health by encouraging young people to become active participants in their own mental health.”

“Text for Teens is coming to Sullivan County at an incredibly important time” said John Liddle, Sullivan County commissioner of health and human services and the commissioner of social services. “Our kids are still recovering from the isolation and trauma of the COVID pandemic, and this service will ease access to mental health care for many children and families.

“Starting this service is the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of many of our United Sullivan partners,” Liddle continued, “and it shows how great things can be accomplished when a community comes together to support its most vulnerable.”

“Many of us in the field are extremely excited to have Text for Teens coming to our community, as our youth have been struggling—even more so [from] the isolation of the pandemic and remote learning,” said Melissa Stickle, Sullivan County community services director. “Text for Teens is a great program that provides an outlet and support to teens by utilizing their preferred method of communication. A lot of hard work and care has gone into bringing these services to our county.”

“Sullivan 180 is extremely proud of the work of our former team member, Jenny Sanchez, who was committed to bringing a text for teens line to Sullivan County,” said Amanda Langseder, executive director of Sullivan 180. “This line is vital in a rural county that experiences high rates of disconnected youth, sexually transmitted diseases, suicide and substance use disorder. Giving teens one more way to reach out and find help or answers to their questions will no doubt have enormous positive impact on our county’s young people.”

Community partners working to support the program include Sullivan 180, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Sullivan BOCES, the Sullivan County Department of Health and Family Services, the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, and Sullivan County 911.

For more information about Access: Supports for Living and Text for Teens, visit www. accesssupports.org or call 888/750-2266.