Anonymous Peer Support
for 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Under 30
Get in touch with a peer support volunteer; Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30PM EST.
Chat
Open 4 PM - 9:30 PM
Text
Open 4 PM - 9:30 PM
Email Us
Emails are responded to within service hours at askus@youthline.ca
If you need support outside of our service hours, check out Other HelpLines, find Support Near You, or search our list of Online Resources.
Who Are We
Our helpline is staffed by peer support volunteers, who are all 2SLGBTQ+ youth aged 16-29, living across
Ontario. They aren't professional counsellors, but are trained in active listening, anti-racism, harm reduction, and topics related to gender and sexuality. Whether you're questioning your identity, dealing with family, feeling lonely, or just want to chat, we're here for it.
You can read more about how our volunteers are trained here.
Some common things people call, text, or chat us to talk about include:
- Questioning gender identity and/or sexual orientation
- Coming out
- Mental health
- Relationships with friends, partners, and family
- Feeling socially isolated
- Seeking referrals to resources and supports online and in your community
- ...or just to chat!
What is Peer Support?
Peer support is about sharing and connecting with people who have similar experiences or identities. We aren’t just focused on solving problems or finding solutions – we're here to truly listen to what you’ve got to say
Our Approach
We promise to be a nonjudgmental space for you to share whatever is on your mind.
We support your decisions. We won't tell you what to do, but we can always chat through your options.
We will never contact emergency services if you do not share details with us like names or addresses.
Your Privacy Matters!
Curious to know how we keep the HelpLine anonymous? We can't see your number or contact you after the chat is over. To ensure your privacy, avoid sharing personal info with us (like names or addresses). We'll stay anonymous too and won't share our names or other personal info. If you’d like to learn more, please view our terms and conditions.
Need Immediate Crisis Support?
If you feel you are in crisis, you can reach out to:
Youthspace
9pm - 3am EST;
chat or text
Trans Lifeline
Monday-Friday
1pm - 9pm EST;
phone only
988
24/7 phone or text
Kid's Help Phone
24/7 phone, text, or chat
You can chat with YouthLine about anything on your mind, including thoughts about suicide, but we are not trained to support you through an immediate crisis or risk of harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "anonymous" mean?
We cannot see your phone number or IP address and cannot contact you once you end your chat. We only know what you tell us. You choose what you want to share with us.We won't even know your name if you don't want us to.We won't tell you our names, so you don't have to worry about knowing who we are.
What is 'Duty to Report'?
The Duty to Report is an obligation everyone has to reportsuspected or known cases of abuse, neglect, or harm of individuals under the age of 16 to the Children's Aid Society. If you share anything that falls under the Duty to Report, and are under the age of 16, we will let you know that sharing any identifying information (like a name, address, or school) will mean we have to contact CAS about you. If you do not share any identifying information, the chat will remain anonymous and nobody will be contacted.
Do you ask for any information about me? What does that information get used for?
We ask for general statistics that still allow you to stay anonymous (i.e. your region, age, race, and gender).
Answering these is optional - it's up to you how much you share. We do this so that we know who we're reaching and what communities we need to reach out to.
How often can I use the helpline?
We're a small team and want to support as many people as we can. That's why we can chat with you for up to one hour each day. If you need more support after chatting with us, we can always help find you other resources or a different helpline.
Can I talk to someone who has the same identities as me?
All of our HelpLine volunteers identify as 2SLGBTQ+. While we can't guarantee that the volunteer you speak with will share all the same identities as you, all volunteers are trained to support the diversity of 2SLGBTQ+ identities and lived experiences.
What can I talk about?
We're here to chat about whatever you'd like!
Some common things people chat with us about include:
- Questioning gender and/or sexuality
- Coming out (thoughts, fears, or plans)
- Mental health
- Dealing with friends/partners/family
- Feeling lonely
- Looking for other services, groups, or other resources
- Just to chat
We can also talk about suicidal thoughts and self-harm, but we aren't trained to provide crisis support or intervention. If a topic goes beyond our volunteers' training and our limits as a service, we can help you find an alternate service that can better meet your needs.
I am a parent/friend/family member of a 2SLGBTQ+ youth and need advice on how to support them.
Our peer support helpline is primarily for 2SLGBTQ+ and questioning youth. If you need help supporting a 2SLGBTQ+ youth in your life, check out this list of resources, or email us at helpline@youthline.ca
Share Your Experience
Let us know how you felt about your chat with us! If you have used our services and have a complaint or a suggestion about our HelpLine, please take a look at our Complaints Policy.
And feel welcome to submit a complaint or suggestion using the anonymous form below or to helpline@youthline.ca