Youth texting Kids Help Phone for mental health support overnight surges 24 percent across Canada

Young people are reaching out to Kids Help Phone for mental health support at night at dramatically higher rates, signalling growing distress among Canadian youth.

Demands for text-based support from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. ET are 183 percent higher than daytime requests, according to the organization. Over the first six months of 2026, overnight requests rose 24 percent compared to the same period last year, with data collected through June 30.

"I say it's a canary in the coal mine time," Rebecca Shields, president and CEO of Kids Help Phone, told media. The organization receives a crisis text every 90 seconds.

Many young people contacting the service report relationship-related concerns — issues with friends, family, or romantic partners. Depression and hopelessness are also common. Shields cited stressors including geopolitical events and affordability concerns as young people age into adulthood as contributing factors. "Sadly, our fourth top issue still remains thoughts of suicide and crisis calls," she said.

Alberta reported a 29 percent increase in overnight requests, part of a nationwide pattern that varies significantly by province. Yukon saw the highest surge at 64 percent. Other increases: British Columbia 49 percent, New Brunswick 49 percent, Prince Edward Island 59 percent, Saskatchewan 36 percent, Manitoba 30 percent, Ontario 27 percent, Nova Scotia 26 percent, Newfoundland and Labrador 12 percent, and Quebec 10 percent. The Northwest Territories reported a 25 percent rise and Nunavut 17 percent.

Dr. Jo Ann Unger, a clinical psychologist with Shared Health in Manitoba, said the surge reflects current events compounded by pandemic effects on youth mental health. "A lot of kids have had trouble coming back to school. Vacancy rates in school have been lower than pre-pandemic time periods. So, we have all these events coming together at the same time leading to youth calling for help," Unger said.

British Columbia's health ministry said in a statement that young people struggling with their mental health must be met with compassion, citing efforts to expand Foundry centres and substance-use beds across the province. The province has 15 Foundry centres in development, providing free mental health and wellness services for people aged 12-24.