About Us
What is YouthInBC.com?
YouthInBC.com (sometimes referred to as YIBC) is first and foremost an on-line crisis chat service, where you can chat 1-on-1 with a trained volunteer from the Crisis Centre, where our service is based.
We also have this site, with information so you can learn more on a variety of youth-related issues, as well as resources: a list of organizations and websites where you can get help. You can also get support via email by writing to us at youthinbc@crisiscentre.bc.ca.
Who is YouthInBC.com for?
It’s for youth who need a safe, respectful place to access support and information, or just someone to listen without judgment. By “youth”, we mean 35 and under, but we’ve never turned anybody away based on their age. Youth from outside of BC are welcome on our service as well.
It’s also for parents and/or professionals who are looking for topic-specific information and resources for various youth-related issues.
What can I chat about?
Anything you need to! People chat about lots of different issues: suicide, sexuality, depression and stress, relationship conflicts and much, much more.
How do I chat?
If it’s during our hours (that’s noon to 1 am Pacific Time), the large button in the centre of the homepage will say “CHAT NOW“. Click that to go to our “Pre-Chat Survey”, then hit the “Submit” button at the bottom to request a chat.
If it says “OFFLINE“, we’re closed for the moment, but you can still click on the button to jump to a form that will send us an email. You can also browse the site for other information and supporting resources, too.
From the blog
- So how does this chat thing work, anyhow? – Part I – What we do, what we don’t do and how we can help you with the stuff in between
- So how does this chat thing work, anyhow? – Part II – Anonymity & confidentiality on our chat, and what happens when you talk about suicide
- So how does this chat thing work anyhow? – Part III – Who the volunteers are, what kind of people they are, and why we decided to do it that way.
- Where can I go when the chat is closed? – Other services, hotlines that are open when we’re not, especially ones outside our region
