With life’s stressors including busy schedules, work and home responsibilities, raising children, managing health conditions, or surviving abuse, everyone needs support. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support through back and forth texting with a trained Crisis Counselor.
This study analyzed de-identified CC reports and voluntary post-conversation surveys from 85,877 texters of the nation’s largest provider of crisis text interventions. Findings suggest that CTL may improve distal outcomes for some texters.
Behavioral Health Services
Working full time, raising children, and maintaining a home can be exhausting. If you need someone to talk to, text REACH to 741741 from anywhere in the US and you will be connected with a trained Crisis Counselor.
These volunteers provide free, confidential and anonymous support via text message. They can de-escalate a crisis, provide compassionate listening, and offer safety planning. They can also link individuals to local, state and national resources for further support.
The help line is available 24 hours a day by phone, online and through text, providing information and referrals in over 200 languages. It is free to use, although standard messaging rates apply based on your phone/plan. It provides confidential crisis counseling, mental health and substance abuse support, and suicide prevention resources. Its services are provided by a network of volunteer Crisis Counselors across the country. They are staffed by trained volunteers and supported by an innovative technology platform. The organization was inspired by a heart-wrenching text from a young person in distress.
Mental Health Services
The United States is facing a mental health crisis, and a lot of people do not get the help they need. Through mental health volunteering and training, you can help make a difference for someone in need.
You can access free, anonymous and confidential crisis counseling for any mental health or substance use issue by texting “HOME” to 741741. A trained specialist will respond to you with care and compassion. They will also connect you with resources in your community.
You can also find help by calling 988. Behavioral health professionals are available 24/7 for free and confidential crisis and emotional support, information and referrals. They can be reached by phone, chat or online. They can help you cope with distress or even suicidal thoughts. Callers can also connect with a peer support specialist who is trained to use their own personal experiences to support others in similar situations. They can also provide short-term counseling.
Suicide Prevention
The suicide prevention services provided by Crisis Text Line are free, confidential and available to anyone in the United States. For more information, visit their website.
Having suicidal thoughts, knowing someone at risk of suicide or wanting to learn more about suicide and mental health services are not uncommon reactions. Family and friends of people at risk often recognize warning signs first and can help connect them to treatment.
In addition to suicide hotlines, there are also a number of suicide prevention websites and resources. For example, Umatter provides a hotline and chat for teens, a suicide attempt survivor message board and other resources.
Personalized safety planning has been shown to reduce suicide attempts. People at risk can work with their providers to create a plan that describes how to limit access to lethal items and list people who can help in a crisis. A free screening tool can also be used in medical settings to identify adults at risk for suicide.
Disaster Survivors
Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, or have been through a traumatic event, helplines (also known as hotlines and crisis lines) can provide a safe and judgement-free space to talk about your emotions and experiences. They can also connect you with resources and offer support in a variety of ways.
A growing number of crisis lines now offer texting support in addition to phone calls, which can be especially helpful for people who don’t feel comfortable talking on the phone or might need a little extra privacy when expressing their feelings. Here are ten of the best crisis line options that offer texting services.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline for anyone who is experiencing emotional distress because of a natural or human-caused disaster. Callers can call for themselves or on behalf of a loved one. The helpline is free and confidential, although the counselor may ask for basic information to help them better understand the types of calls received.