Crisis Text Line is a free, anonymous mental health text support service available 24 hours a day. Whether you’re dealing with a stressor at home, school or work, you can find help by texting with a trained Crisis Counselor.
While you might be hesitant about using a texting service, Crisis Text Line has proven to be an effective method of providing support to those in need.
How It Works
When you text Crisis Text Line, you are connected to a trained volunteer, who is called a Crisis Counselor. They are free and available to help anyone who texts them with an issue they are struggling with.
They can support you about anything, from an exam that you have failed to a breakup with your boyfriend or girlfriend. They can even help you sort through your feelings and move to a more calm place in your mind.
The service uses an algorithm to assess how severe a texter’s crisis is and what time of day they are most likely to reach out for help. This data helps them decide how many counselors to assign, said Dena Trujillo, Crisis Text’s CEO.
Signing Up
Crisis Text Line is a free, anonymous service for people in crisis. All you need to do is text the word “Got5” or “Got5U” to 741741 and you’ll get connected with a Crisis Counselor, who will be ready to listen.
Crisis counselors are volunteers who are trained to support you in your time of need. They are not therapists or doctors and cannot provide medical advice.
They are there to listen, and they never have to share anything you don’t want to. They can help you get to a safe place and point you in the direction of more help.
The first two text messages sent to the Crisis Text Line are automated, but once you’re connected to a Crisis Counselor, you’ll speak with someone who is real and ready to listen. You’ll have a back-and-forth conversation and the counselor can talk to you about whatever you need.
Getting Help
In the US, the Crisis Text Line is a free, confidential service provided 24/7 via text. It’s available to anyone in the country, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.
To get help with Crisis Text Line, you simply need to text the word “Got5” or the number 741741 from anywhere in the US to receive two automated messages letting you know you’re being connected with a trained Crisis Counselor who will respond empathetically and without judgment.
You’ll be matched with a volunteer Crisis Counselor who is supervised by a licensed, trained mental health professional. They’ll ask you questions, listen to your story, and then connect you to local resources if needed.
In 2021, the Crisis Text Line listened to 1.3 million conversations between people in need and its volunteer counselors. Some of the top issues that texters discussed included relationship problems, bullying, sexual identity, depression, self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
Leaving a Review
Taking the time to leave a review is important, as it can help others decide if Crisis Text Line is right for them. Providing an easy-to-use interface that is free, secure, and confidential is paramount to success. The company also takes care to protect the privacy of its users by not asking for personal information and ensuring that all data is encrypted at all times.
The company does an excellent job of providing support to those in need, and delivering quality customer service at all times. In fact, Crisis Text Line has a long list of accolades to their credit including being named the most effective suicide prevention program in the world by the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The company has a staff of more than 1,800 people, with more than 500 dedicated Crisis Counselors.
The best part of working for the organization is that you are part of a team that is focused on making the world a better place one conversation at a time.