Youth Chat launches multilingual mental health support

Youth Chat has announced the launch of a new service which offers multilingual mental health support to young Australians.

Youth Chat describes itself as a non-profit organisation and has introduced technology that enables confidential conversation in 135 languages via popular messaging platforms. This initiative is said to provide CALD youth with access to mental health resources without language barriers. Furthermore, the service has been certified by AWS for security, safeguarding user privacy.

Statistics indicate that one in three young Australians have experienced a mental health disorder in the past year. Youth Chat's programme addresses this by assisting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people, who reportedly face unique challenges in obtaining support due to language constraints.

The co-founders, Christie and David, underscore the dual mission of Youth Chat.

They aim to bridge communication gaps for CALD youth and promote inclusivity in mental health support. "Language should unite us, not divide us. Our technology paves the way for inclusivity as a standard in service delivery. We invite you to partner with us, to explore collaborative research opportunities, and to champion the cause of accessible mental health support," Christie said.

Adding to this, David commented, "Discovering that less than 5% of Corporate Australia offers in-language customer service propelled us to act. Youth Chat is not just a platform but a commitment to support our youth, especially those in CALD communities."

The technology forms part of Youth Chat's efforts towards achieving selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically emphasising Good Health and Well-being, Reduced Inequality, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Youth Chat is partnering with organisations like AWS and IBM to incorporate AI into its platform.

This includes AI generative sentiment analysis, AI-generated operator suggestions, and AI prediction and prevention. These AI developments aim to enhance the platform's capability, providing dynamic analytical feedback and optimising operator resources while building language libraries.

The organisation's broader vision is to embed inclusivity into business practice and service delivery standards, encouraging cooperation across sectors. They invite health providers, businesses, and community organisations to foster a robust support network, furthering the cause of comprehensive mental health access.