If you’re in crisis, text 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor. The conversation is completely free, anonymous, and 24/7. It usually takes less than five minutes to get connected with a counselor.
We surveyed current and former Crisis Counselors to understand how volunteering for Crisis Text Line shapes their lives, relationships, and communities. The results are powerful.
Free and anonymous
The service is free for everyone and staffed by volunteers who receive training, including 34 hours of clinical supervision. Volunteers have access to a database of mental health resources and can offer compassionate, nonjudgmental support. They can also connect you to emergency services if necessary. They are also trained to recognize the signs of a suicide crisis and can help you de-escalate the situation.
Busy schedules, balancing jobs and finances, maintaining a home and raising children can all be challenging responsibilities for people. If you feel overwhelmed, text “Got5” to 741-741. You’ll get two automated responses telling you that you’re being connected with a Crisis Counselor.
You can also call 988 to talk to a counselor or chat online. This toll-free help line is available 24/7 and can connect you with behavioral health professionals who are able to provide you with information and referrals. This service is free of charge and works in over 200 languages.
24 hours a day
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 crisis support through text message. Individuals in need of help can text “HOME” to 741741 to be connected with a trained volunteer who will use active listening and safety planning skills to help them through their difficult time. Volunteers who respond to texts are known as Crisis Counselors.
In addition to providing crisis counseling, the organization offers other services including hotlines and online chat. The National Runaway Safeline offers support to youth who are running away from home or being bullied. Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only free and confidential e-mental health service, provides support through phone, chat, and text.
The Trevor Project is the leading nationwide crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Their phone, chat, and online services are available 24 hours a day. They also offer a free app that allows users to connect with counselors in their local community.
No judgment or judgmental responses
If you’re going through a rough patch or are thinking of suicide, it can be helpful to talk to someone. Many helplines are available 24/7 and provide a safe, judgment-free space to discuss your feelings and experiences. They can also help you navigate local resources. They can even connect you to emergency services in rare cases.
Crisis Text Line is a leading mental health nonprofit that provides 24/7 free text support to people in crisis. Their trained volunteer Crisis Counselors can help you overcome your difficulties and find healthy coping mechanisms. They can also offer advice on how to help a friend who’s struggling.
Unlike other texts-based mental health services, Crisis Text Line offers support in underserved communities. It reaches people in rural, urban, and low-income areas by leveraging the dominant communication medium of today—text messaging. Their model combines the power of volunteers, data science, and technology to provide rapid-response crisis counseling. Nearly half of suicidal texters reported feeling less suicidal at the end of their CTL conversation, which is comparable to the improvement seen in psychotherapy.
Listening
A heart-wrenching text message inspired the founder of Crisis Text Line to conceive a service where people in need could receive support through a trusted and familiar communication medium: their cellphone. Launched in 2013, the nonprofit quickly expanded to become the country’s largest text-based crisis intervention service.
Trained volunteer Crisis Counselors use active listening, collaborative problem solving and safety planning to help people move from a hot moment to a cool and calm place. They also provide resources that may be helpful to people in need.
While the majority of participants reported that their CTL CCs were effective in helping them de-escalate and cope with their mental health symptoms, some participants cited long wait times and invalidating responses as reasons for not being satisfied with their experience with the service. This research highlights the need to focus within and beyond Crisis Text Line on improving the quality of these services. The research also provides the first evidence that a CTL’s effectiveness is influenced by racial/ethnic context.