Kids Help Phone

What Kids Help Phone does

Kids Help Phone (KHP) is a Canadian registered charity founded in 1989 that operates Canada's only national, 24/7 e-mental health service for youth aged 5 and older. It delivers free, confidential, bilingual crisis support and counselling through phone (1-800-668-6868), text (CONNECT to 686868), online messaging, live chat, a mobile app (Always There), and a website with 400+ evidence-based resources. Culturally specific programming covers Indigenous youth (Weaving Threads), Black youth (RiseUp powered by KHP), newcomers, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, post-secondary students (Good2Talk in Ontario and Nova Scotia), and children ages 5–12. In 2025, services were used 3.7 million times and 78% of texting youth shared something they had never shared with anyone else. The organization completed a SOC 2 Type 1 audit in July 2025 (Deloitte) and has held Imagine Canada accreditation since 2013.

The technology platform combines a multi-channel crisis intervention stack with a content engine called The Story Studio and a Peer-to-Peer Community forum. KHP is developing a generative AI conversation simulator in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University, trained on 750,000+ anonymized transcripts of real youth crisis conversations, using agentic AI systems that adapt to emotional shifts in real time. The organization also co-sponsored a Mila-led national hackathon on conversational AI safety in March 2026. Operational sub-brands include Weaving Threads, RiseUp, Good2Talk, Counsellor in the Classroom, The Story Studio, Feel Out Loud, and Cam's Kids.

KHP is a charitable nonprofit: all end-user services are free with no access barriers. Revenue derives from individual donations, federal government grants ($3M from the Government of Canada in 2022; $5.3M from the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2024), foundation grants ($3.2M from Wellcome in 2026 for the TMU AI partnership), corporate partnerships (Broadridge, Bell, BMO, Giant Tiger, Peace Collective), and cause-marketing merchandise. In 2026, the organization spun off the Kids Help Phone Foundation to scale national fundraising. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with strategic input from National Youth, Indigenous, and Black Advisory Councils.

Name

Kids Help Phone

Legal name

Kids Help Phone

Website

https://kidshelpphone.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kids Help Phone is a Canadian registered charity founded in 1989 that provides free, confidential, 24/7 e-mental health crisis support and counselling to Canadian youth via phone, text, online messaging, live chat, mobile app, and a 400+ resource website, logging 3.7 million service interactions in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Pediatric Direct-to-Consumer Virtual Care (HLALAAAI), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth mental health
• Crisis intervention
• E-mental health
• Text counselling
• Peer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable donations from individual Canadians supporting youth mental health. Donation portal available at kidshelpphone.akaraisin.com. 2026 marks launch of KHP Foundation to inspire generosity and raise funds across Canada.
2. Government Grants: Federal government funding for mental health initiatives. Government of Canada invested $3 million to expand Weaving Threads and Counsellor in the Classroom programs for Indigenous, Black, newcomer, and underserved communities, part of a broader $100 million mental health budget.
3. Foundation and Research Grants: Charitable foundation funding for specific innovation projects. Wellcome (UK-based) awarded $3.2 million for a five-year research partnership with TMU to develop AI-powered training simulator.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Multi-year corporate partnerships providing program funding, employee volunteerism, donation matching, and technology sponsorship. Broadridge partnership includes funding for Counsellor in the Classroom, employee engagement, and innovation support.
5. Campaign Merchandise Sales: Anti-Bullying Day pink shirt campaign with Giant Tiger, where 100% of profits are donated to Kids Help Phone. To date, campaign has raised more than $350,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national, 24/7, bilingual, confidential, and anonymous e-mental health service delivering free crisis support, professional counselling, and self-serve resources to youth aged 5 and older across Canada via phone (1-800-668-6868), text (686868), live chat, mobile app, and a web platform with 400+ evidence-based resources. Specialized sub-brands (RiseUp for Black youth, Weaving Threads for Indigenous youth, Good2Talk for post-secondary students, Counsellor in the Classroom) deliver culturally specific and education-focused mental health programming.

Product overview

Kids Help Phone operates as a comprehensive e-mental health platform offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core service provides 24/7 national support through multiple channels: text crisis support (CONNECT to 686868), professional phone and chat counselling, and an extensive mental health website with over 400 resources including videos, games, and interactive tools. Key specialized offerings include RiseUp for Black youth, Weaving Threads for Indigenous youth, and Counsellor in the Classroom for schools. Additional services include the Peer-to-Peer Community, Resources Around Me database, and Good2Talk for post-secondary students. The 2026 portfolio includes new AI-powered training tools developed with TMU and the Feel Out Loud movement campaign. Services are available in multiple languages with dedicated support pathways for equity-deserving communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Weaving Threads: A program supporting Indigenous youth mental health across Canada
• RiseUp powered by KHP
• Good2Talk
• Counsellor in the Classroom
• Cam's Kids
• The Story Studio
• Feel Out Loud

Products and services

• Kids Help Phone Core E-Mental Health Service Canada's only national, 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support and counselling to all young people across Canada via phone, text, online, and mobile channels.
• Text Crisis Support Real-time text-based crisis support by trained volunteer crisis responders available 24/7. Youth text CONNECT to 686868; Indigenous youth can request First Nations, Inuk, or Métis responders by texting FIRST NATIONS, INUIT, or METIS.
• Professional Phone Counselling 24/7 phone-based professional counselling with professional counsellors to help youth better understand what they are going through.
• Live Chat Counselling Online chat-based counselling with professional counsellors available from 7 p.m. to midnight ET, offering real-time confidential support through web browser.
• Mental Health Website Resources Evidence-based online platform with over 400 resources including videos, games, tools, quizzes, articles, and real-life stories to help young people learn about well-being and mental health topics.
• Peer-to-Peer Community Online community space for youth to connect with peers, share stories, provide encouragement, and get support from other young people across Canada.
• Resources Around Me Interactive map and vetted resource database enabling youth to search for in-person and virtual support programs, services, and apps nearest their community across Canada.
• Good2Talk Free, confidential mental health service providing professional counselling, crisis support, and information referrals specifically for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia, available 24/7.
• RiseUp powered by Kids Help Phone Canada's first national, 24/7, bilingual e-mental health support service specifically for African, Caribbean, and Black youth, offering culturally relevant wellness and mental health support.
• Weaving Threads Indigenous engagement program connecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth with culturally appropriate mental health support through a Canada-wide network of volunteer Champions and Ambassadors in Indigenous communities.
• Counsellor in the Classroom School-based mental health program bringing professional counselling support directly into classrooms, particularly targeting students in rural, remote, and underserved communities.
• Always There App Mobile application for accessing crisis text support, available for download on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, providing a mobile-first experience for connecting with crisis responders.
• AI-Powered Training Simulator Generative AI-powered conversation simulator and performance assessor for training Kids Help Phone crisis responders, using agentic AI systems trained on 750,000+ anonymized KHP transcripts to create realistic youth crisis scenarios for trainee practice.
• KHP Foundation National youth mental health foundation launched in 2026 to inspire generosity and raise funds across Canada to deliver on Kids Help Phone's promise to youth, ensuring more young people have access to mental health support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.7 million service interactions in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and established.

• Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Five-year research partnership to develop an AI-powered training simulator for mental health crisis responders, supported by Wellcome funding. Research team led by Professor Naimul Khan. The tool uses agentic AI systems that adapt to emotional shifts in real time, trained on over 750,000 anonymized KHP transcripts.
• Mila (Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Mila launched its first national hackathon focused on conversational AI safety in youth mental health contexts, in collaboration with Bell Canada, Buzz HPC, and Kids Help Phone, running March 16-23, 2026. Event aims to design, test, and document technical safeguards to reduce harm when young people interact with conversational AI systems.
• Bell CanadamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 March 2026Partner in Mila's national hackathon focused on conversational AI safety in youth mental health contexts, alongside Buzz HPC and Kids Help Phone. Hackathon ran March 16-23, 2026.
• Giant Tiger Stores LimitedestablishedGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026Fourth annual exclusive pink shirt for Anti-Bullying Day featuring artwork designed by Ottawa artist Hailey-Lynn through a youth workshop hosted by Ottawa Art Gallery. Available in select Giant Tiger stores and online with 100% of profits donated to Kids Help Phone. Campaign has raised more than $350,000 to date.
• Broadridge Financial SolutionsmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 September 2025Multi-year partnership to expand youth mental health services across Canada with three pillars: program funding for Counsellor in the Classroom, employee volunteer and donation-matching efforts, and executive technology sponsorship. Aims to extend mental health support to students in rural, remote, and underserved communities and support innovations in KHP's data systems and digital tools.
• BMOestablishedGTM or Marketing PartnerBMO Walk so Kids Can Talk is Kids Help Phone's signature annual fundraising event. BMO sponsors the event which mobilizes participants across Canada to support youth mental health.
• Peace CollectiveestablishedGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Feel Out Loud merchandise collection celebrating young people and self-expression. New line of KHP-branded apparel and accessories.
• Good2Talk (Ontario and Nova Scotia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKids Help Phone operates Good2Talk, a free confidential service for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia, providing professional counselling, crisis support, and information referrals 24/7.
• National Youth Council (NYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of current and former youth members who inform KHP programs and services. Members gain professional skill-building, increased interest in mental health careers, improved civic engagement, and empowerment. Advisory role in organizational governance.
• Indigenous Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of 12 Inuit, Métis, and First Nations experts (half youth) who guide Indigenous programming at KHP. Half of members are youth who demonstrate commitment to mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Indigenous young people.
• Black Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of 12 members from across the Afro-diaspora guiding RiseUp powered by KHP, Canada's first national 24/7 bilingual e-mental health support service for Black youth. Half of members are youth 29 and under, with dedicated KHP board membership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall): Online peer-to-peer mental health support community offering anonymous forums, self-help resources, and professional guidance. Comparable in digital-first peer support and resource platform model for youth and adult mental health.
• MindRight: US-based nonprofit providing text-based mental health coaching for teens in urban schools. Comparable in technology-enabled, text-first youth mental health support model with focus on underserved populations.

Direct peers

• Jack.org: Canadian charity focused on youth mental health education and advocacy, training young leaders to change mental health culture. Danny Sirmis, KHP's new EVP Finance and Operations, previously served as VP Finance at Jack.org, indicating direct operational familiarity.
• Crisis Text Line: US-based 24/7 text-based crisis support service that closely mirrors Kids Help Phone's text crisis responder model. Operates a similar volunteer-driven text platform with trained crisis responders serving youth and adults in crisis.
• The Trevor Project: US-based nonprofit providing 24/7 crisis support to LGBTQ+ young people via phone, text, and chat. Direct peer in youth-focused crisis intervention with similar technology-enabled delivery model and free service offering.

Broad incumbents

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: US national network of local crisis centers providing 24/7 call, text, and chat support. Represents the established national-scale crisis service model that could potentially expand into Canada or serve as the template for any government-backed Canadian crisis line competing with KHP.

Regional players

• Childline (UK): UK-based free, private, confidential 24/7 helpline for children and young people under 19. Operated by the NSPCC and offering phone, online chat, and email support with comparable volunteer-based model serving similar age demographics.
• Kids Helpline (Australia): Australia's national 24/7 telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5-25. Direct international equivalent of Kids Help Phone with similar service model, age range, and multi-channel delivery in another English-speaking country.
• Youth Beyond Blue (Australia): Australian organization providing mental health information and support specifically for young people aged 12-25. Comparable in youth-specific mental health focus and digital-first content distribution strategy.
• Foundry: British Columbia-based network of youth wellness centers offering integrated mental health, substance use, and social services for young people aged 12-24. Comparable in targeting Canadian youth mental health but with in-person/regional service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KidsHelpPhone
• Facebookfacebook.com/KidsHelpPhone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kidshelpphone
• Instagraminstagram.com/kidshelpphone/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@kidshelpphone
• Xx.com/kidshelpphone

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kids Help Phone