The Alex Panton Foundation has recently launched their Kids Helpline in the Cayman Islands. Young people are now able to access the kidshelpline.ky website and app – which launched in February, and a helpline and textline which launched earlier this month on 7th March 2024.
Their Kids Helpline website – which is peer-reviewed by members of the Alex Panton Foundation Clinical and Education Committee, offers a host of educational resources on mental health for children and teens along with guides for parents, guardians and teachers on the potential signs of a young person who is struggling and ways to support them.
Their Kids Helpline App, available on IOS and Android, contains all the same content as the website, but in a mobile-friendly format. The app can also be used offline (without Wi-Fi or mobile data connection).
The helplines, which are confidential and free of charge, aim to offer immediate support for young people in distress or their parents, guardians or educators. Individuals will be connected with one of the Foundation’s thoroughly trained volunteers who will listen to concerns along with offering further support and guidance on where to access further mental health support.
Their helpline and textline services are available Thursdays-Sundays from 3pm-9pm.
The phone number for the helpline is 649-5437, and the textline can be accessed through their website.
The Alex Panton Foundation emphasises that this Kids Helpline is not and should not replace therapy but it’s more of a “referral channel”:
“It is important that we make clear that the Kids Helpline does not offer therapy or replace therapeutic or clinical services in any way.
In addition to a listening service, it aims to serve as a referral channel, connecting young people and their parents, educators, or caregivers to available resources.”
Learn more about the Kids Helpline here: https://kidshelpline.ky/
Cayman also has a mental health helpline for adults. For more information, visit: https://befrienders.org/find-support-now/caymind/
If you or a loved one is in distress and need immediate help and support, call 911.
