Who can use these services?
If you’re a current post-secondary student studying with an Ontario post-secondary institution (including, but not limited to, a college, university, trade school or Indigenous institution), you’re eligible to use Good2Talk’s services. This includes full-time, part-time and international students.
What happens when I call Good2Talk?
Upon first calling Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454, you’ll be asked to select your preferred language (English, French or Mandarin). You’ll then be connected to a Good2Talk Community Navigator who can help determine your needs. From there, you’ll either receive information about support resources on campus or in your community or a community-based referral, or be connected to a professional counsellor to start a conversation.
Who am I talking to when I call Good2Talk?
When you call Good2Talk, you’ll be talking to a paid, professional counsellor or Community Navigator. Counsellors must have a degree in a relevant discipline, a minimum of three years of applicable work experience and knowledge of telephone counselling and crisis intervention. Community Navigators must have a degree in a relevant discipline, a minimum of three years of experience in the health / human services field and be certified as Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) professionals. Additionally, all staff have Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
If Mandarin is your preferred language, you’ll be connected to a professionally trained Mandarin-speaking interpreter that can help you communicate your thoughts and needs to a counsellor or Community Navigator.
Is Good2Talk confidential and anonymous?
Good2Talk is private and confidential. But what does that actually mean?
Your texting conversation with a volunteer crisis responder is confidential. To find out more about what that means, check out Good2Talk’s privacy policy, which includes information on duty to report.
Your phone conversation with a counsellor is private and confidential. To find out more about what that means, check out Good2Talk’s privacy policy, which includes information on duty to report.
What happens when I text Good2Talk?
After texting GOOD2TALKON to 686868, you’ll receive a few automated messages with information about the service and its privacy policy. Next, you’ll be connected to a trained, volunteer crisis responder who you can talk to about any issue, big or small. You can end a conversation with a crisis responder at any time by texting the word STOP. You won’t receive any more messages unless you text again.
Who am I talking to when I text?
When you text Good2Talk, you’ll be talking to a volunteer crisis responder. Crisis responders are trained, dedicated volunteers from across Canada who are passionate about helping young people and are supervised by professional staff.
What if I want to connect with my peers for support anonymously?
If you’re searching for a way to interact with other young people across Canada in a moderated, online environment, the Peer-to-Peer Community at Kids Help Phone may be an option for you. On the platform, youth can explore support forums on topics related to mental health and well-being. Youth can anonymously share experiences, offer inspiration and ask questions to connect, comfort and cheer each other on. To learn more about the forums, including what they are, who can use them, your privacy and more, you can read the Community’s FAQ page.
Who’s paying for these services?
Good2Talk has been funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities since 2013.
Will it show up on my phone bill if I call or text?
Depending on your phone carrier, the number may appear on your phone bill. However, the service names Good2Talk or Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone will not appear anywhere on your bill.
Will I have to wait to get support?
The average wait time to connect with a professional counsellor is about 10 minutes. The average wait time to connect with a volunteer crisis responder is about five minutes, with high-risk texts being responded to in under one minute on average. You can check out our other well-being resources while you wait.
What if I’m having trouble accessing the services?
Good2Talk is available to all Ontario post-secondary students. If you have technical difficulties accessing the services, you can let us know using the form on our Contact Us page. Please include as much detail as possible about the technical issue so we can investigate.
While we investigate, you can text 686868 to connect with a trained, volunteer crisis responder, or check out one of our other resources. If you need help immediately, you can contact 911 or the emergency services in your area.
Is Good2Talk hiring?
Good2Talk doesn’t post job openings on our website. As Good2Talk is a partnership between four organizations (ConnexOntario, Kids Help Phone, Ontario 211 and The Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions), job vacancies will be posted on these organizations’ websites.
Can campus staff call Good2Talk for mental health support?
Good2Talk provides support to post-secondary students in Ontario. However, we can provide staff, faculty and service providers with information and referral assistance in locating resources for the students they work with.
Can I access support while outside Canada?
Good2Talk offers support to Ontario post-secondary students who are anywhere in Canada or in the United States (e.g. on a break / holiday, completing remote learning or studying abroad). Currently, students with a Canadian or American phone number can contact a Good2Talk professional counsellor at 1-866-925-5454 from anywhere in Canada or the United States. Throughout 2023, Good2Talk will be offering additional international toll-free numbers for more countries.
