Text-A-Tip program aims to help students cope

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McHENRY, Ill. -- A new program in McHenry designed to help kids who are coping with some serious issues is being done by way of texting .

It's called Text-A-Tip.

It's an anonymous way for middle and high schoolers across McHenry County to reach out for help for themselves or a friend.

The program came about after two teenage friends took their lives in Crystal Lake last March. Other incidences occurred in quick succession in Lake Forest and Barrington, Indiana.

Counselors from the locally-based Child Adolescent & Family Recovery Center are available 24-7 to help.

Students text the word ‘MCHELP’ to 274-637 and the anonymous conversation begins.

The Text-A-Tip posters are all over the schools and word continues to spread that whatever it is, there's no problem too big to be solved.

If you live outside McHenry and are looking for help you can always call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.