A Free Helpline for Youth to Ask Questions & Receive Answers About Safe Sexuality
WhatsOK? is a safe space for youth ages 14-21 to learn and ask about sexual feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This website and our chat, text, email, and phone helpline are free and confidential resources for helpful and accurate information and advice about safe sexual behaviors. We offer non-judgmental support for youth, teens, and young adults to ask questions – no matter how difficult, sensitive, and/or embarrassing – about their own sexuality including thoughts, feelings, interests, and behaviors or someone else’s. Learn more about what happens when you contact us.
What is What’s OK?
WhatsOK is a project of Stop It Now!
WhatsOK is run by Stop It Now!: a non-profit organization that has worked for over 30 years to help keep children and youth safe from sexual harm. We are a program of the Klingberg Family Centers. With funding from World Childhood Foundation, our primary goal is to help all individuals live healthy and safe lives, be accountable and responsible for the safety of children and youth, and work together to help people to speak up and take action early to keep everyone – including themselves – safe.
Contact the team behind the site at info@stopitnow.org.
Why answer questions about safe and healthy sexual behaviors for youth, teenagers, & young adults?
One of the most common questions we hear from youth seeking information and education around sexual thoughts and behavior is: What’s OK? We’re here to help navigate what that means for everyone. Studies show that sexual harm often occurs to youth by other youth, especially within the family. Safety is our number one priority for everyone!
We want to stop harmful behaviors and patterns before they start. Our goal is to help everyone feel less alone and to get support that helps them take next steps to be safe and to keep others safe. We focus on safety, consent, healthy sexual relationships, and well-being. If you’re not ready to chat, then check out our blogs of frequently asked questions and other youth resources.
Our helpline counselors are adults trained to offer information to youth about safe sexual behaviors.
The WhatsOk counselors are professionals experienced in talking about sexuality, sexual development and relationships, as well as sexual harm and abuse. We can help you determine what type of service best meets your needs and help you locate resources for professional help if desired.
Judgement-Free Support
WhatsOK? is a safe space for youth ages 14-21 to learn and ask about sexual feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This website and our chat, text, email, and phone helpline are free and confidential resources for helpful and accurate information and advice about safe sexual behaviors. We offer non-judgemental support for youth, teens, and young adults to ask questions – no matter how difficult, sensitive, and/or embarrassing – about their own sexual thoughts, feelings, interests, and behaviors or someone else’s. Learn more about what happens when you contact us.
We do not provide legal or treatment services, but can help find resources for these if needed. We are not a substitute for professional or medical help, and we do not offer counseling services. We are also not a referral program and cannot make referrals to local professionals and services.
Confidential Conversations
The helpline is confidential.* We do not use caller or text IDs. Chat IP addresses are made invisible to our helpline, and we do not attempt to trace IP addresses. To maintain your confidentiality, we never need or ask for any identifying details, such as last names, addresses, or phone numbers. Our counselors do not need any of these details to provide you with helpful guidance and resources to take appropriate action.
If identifying information is provided and there is a crime being committed, we will respond as legally required. This could include making a report to authorities and sharing any information given to us. View our full privacy policy.
If you have any questions about confidentiality, please ask us at the beginning of your helpline conversation or in your email.
*The helpline is not guaranteed to be anonymous. We do not use caller or text IDs. Chat IP addresses are made invisible to our helpline, and we do not attempt to trace IP addresses. To maintain your anonymity, we never need or ask for any identifying details, such as last names, addresses, or phone numbers. However, due to technological advancements, we can’t fully guarantee anonymity.
Thanks to our Expert Reviewers
The information on this website has been developed by experts. The National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth, our Youth Advisory Council, and others provide review and guidance.
Joan Tabachnick
National Sexual Violence Prevention Expert
David Prescott, LCSW, LICSW
Mental Health Practitioner, Author, and Editor of Safer Press Society
Are you a youth, teen, or young adult with questions about sexual health & behaviors?
We receive calls everyday from youth (14-21) who have questions about sexual behaviors, others who have experienced sexual harm, someone who is worried about someone else either being sexually harmed or causing the harm, and for those seeking help and information about their own thoughts, feelings and behaviors.