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E-male Bonding

Get Connected launches email service in response to research

New research released today shows that boys have a lot to learn from girls when it comes to talking about their feelings. The survey, carried out by NOP, revealed that only half of teenage boys would talk to their friends if they had a serious problem, compared to three-quarters of teenage girls.

In response to these figures, the national helpline Get Connected is today launching an email service, offering an alternative way for young men to talk about their problems. Up to now, Get Connected has found young people the best help whatever the problem by phone and sms, but less than a third of calls to the telephone service are from young men, who often find it difficult to speak about their problems.

Justin Irwin, Director of the Charity said:

“Young men don’t find it easy to talk. Young men are four times as likely to kill themselves as young women. Coincidence?

Young men need to be encouraged to seek help with their problems before they reach crisis point, and feel as if there is no other way out. Although our telephone service clearly works for the 2,000 young men who have called us this year so far, we know there are many more young men and boys with problems who simply don’t want to phone us. Now they can get our help through their keyboard, or email us from their mobile.

It’s not always easy asking for help, but we’re doing everything we can to make it easier than ever before. We aim to have 5,000 young men email us over the next year.”

Virtually all schools and colleges, and 57% of homes in the UK are connected to the Internet. With over one fifth of Internet users under 25 years old, and 55% male, email is an ideal channel to communicate with young men. In addition, the email service will make Get Connected more accessible for other users, including people with hearing impairments.

The new service will be operational from 1pm on Friday, 29^th August 2003.

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PLEASE PUBLICISE THE EMAIL ADDRESS –

AND THE FREE HELPLINE NUMBER – 0808 808 4994

Notes to editors:

1. The vision of Get Connected is that every young person in the UK can find the help they need to support their physical and emotional well-being. Get Connected was three years old this month
2. The Get Connected helpline finds young people the best help whatever their problem. This can range from national telephone or email helplines to local advice centres or websites. Staffed by volunteers, the helpline can either provide a free connection directly to a third party, give callers relevant information to use when they wish, or text them details directly to their mobile phone.
3. Research was carried out by NOP World on August 16^th 2003; 227 boys aged 12-16 and 253 girls of the same age were asked: “would you talk to your friends if you had a serious problem”. 132 boys, or a weighted 56% said yes, compared to 180 girls, or a weighted 72%.
4. Statistics concerning suicide and Internet usage come from the Office of National Statistics.
5. For more information about Get Connected please visit www.getconnected.org.uk
6. Available for interview: Dulcie Ireland, External Affairs Officer / Justin Irwin, Director, Get Connected, 020 8896 4774, 07930 395661,