Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 recently issued the following announcement.
McHenry County teens and tweens now have faster and easier access via text to mental health resources with a new mobile app called “MCHELP.” For a brief video about MCHELP, click here.
Originally launched as “Text A Tip,” the app is an anonymous texting service that provides McHenry County youth the ability to confidentially text concerns -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- to trained, licensed mental health counselors from Centegra's McHenry County Crisis Center. In the fall of 2015, Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 partnered with the McHenry County Community Foundation to launch the service countywide and the foundation committed to funding the service for three years.
Started by Glenview-based LEAD (Linking Efforts Against Drugs), MCHELP routes texts through a cloaking server so texters are completely anonymous, allowing them the freedom to reach out for help without fear. In the case of a life-threatening condition, emergency responders are notified and given as much information as possible to help the person in need.
During the 2015-16 school year, approximately 5,000 texts were received from McHenry County students through the service. Top concerns reported include depression and anxiety, bullying and stress.
To download the MCHELP app, visit the links below or search "MCHELP" from your cell phone.
Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mchelp/id1146075267?mt=8
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.mchelp&hl=en
Original source can be found here.
Source: Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47