Kids Help Phone says there’s been a sharp increase in the number of requests for help coming from young people in the middle of the night, with an even larger surge expected this September when school starts. The organization says overnight texting demand has jumped by nearly a quarter (24 per cent) so far compared to last year, and it’s launching an urgent fundraising appeal ahead of the back-to-school season. In Ontario, the increase is overnight texting is even higher at 27 per cent. Kids Help Phone defines an overnight call or text as one occurring between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.Sanderson say young people are reaching out about anxiety, stress, relationship challengers, depression and suicide. The Kids Help Phone Foundation is now launching an urgent fundraising appeal to help expand its overnight clinical capacity — and there is an added incentive — the J&W Murphy Foundation will match donations up to $250,000 through Sept. 11.