NOT enough teens in crisis call helplines - and that worries those who set them up.
While desperate ones do pick up the receiver as a last resort, operators say, youths can benefit by calling sooner.
Samaritans of Singapore, Youthline and Teen Challenge offer professional help for teen callers facing problems, from family disputes to relationship woes, sex-related issues and school stress.
Yet a survey of seven local helplines showed that not all are subscribed to enough by teens.
Touchline receives an average of 2,000 calls per year but only 10 to 15 per cent are from troubled youths; the rest come from concerned parents and caregivers, and prank callers.
Of the estimated 200 calls that Teen Challenge took from January to June this year, only a quarter were from troubled youths.
Youthline, which caters to youths aged 13 to 19, has been rung up a mere 23 times since its relaunch in March.
Said Ms Ruby Chan, deputy executive director of Youth Challenge, which mans Youthline: 'We want youths to know that if things don't work out, they can always turn to us.'
A straw poll of 46 youths aged 13 to 18 shed some light on why teens are reluctant to call helplines despite the promise of anonymity and professional help.
The teens, who are mostly students in Secondary 3 and 4, revealed that they would rather not confide in strangers. They also think it is wimpy to call.
--ST
probably the helplines dun work, staffed by unprofessional and untrained people on the job. the helplines are probably some call centre manned by part timers out looking to earn a quick buck.