Reaching out for help is one of the bravest things you can do. Crisis lines provide empathetic and compassionate support to people who are in distress.
A volunteer Crisis Counselor will text you back within minutes. They will de-escalate your situation and connect you with resources in your area.
Free and confidential
Whether you are texting about suicidal thoughts, job stress, or the pain of a breakup, crisis counselors are there to listen. They won’t judge you or tell you what to do. And they’ll never ask for your name or any identifying information. The service is free, though standard messaging rates may apply depending on your phone plan.
Crisis Counselors are trained volunteers who help people in emotional distress. They work on their own time, so they can balance volunteering with their own lives. They can even volunteer from home, which helps them avoid the costs of transportation and childcare.
When you text BRAVE to 741741, a trained crisis counselor will respond. They’ll introduce themselves, reflect on your text, and invite you to share at your own pace. Conversations usually end when you and your counselor feel that you are both in a calmer, safer place. However, you can text a counselor again as often as you like.
24 hours a day
A growing number of crisis lines now offer text-based support in addition to traditional phone advice. This can be particularly appealing to those who are hesitant to talk on the phone. But this approach has its own set of challenges, including the fact that many people are not comfortable communicating via text.
Using the app is easy: just text BRAVE to 741741. A trained crisis counselor will reply, de-escalate the situation, and help the person identify options for getting help locally. They can also help the person create a safety plan, but they will only alert emergency services if there is an immediate risk of harm.
These apps are a great way to reach out to anyone who is struggling, whether it’s a personal crisis or someone you know. But remember that a crisis isn’t always life-threatening; it could be anything from feeling overwhelmed by school to the pain of a breakup. The key is to not discredit an issue as not a “crisis” because that can lead to people refusing to use the service at all.
7 days a week
Crisis Text Line aims to provide free, confidential mental health support. It is available through a new three-digit number (988), which connects users with trained crisis counselors. These counselors listen empathetically and work to help people feel safe and identify options for support. They are also trained to de-escalate people and work with them to create a safety plan if needed. They will notify emergency services only if it is necessary to protect the safety of a person.
Taking that first step to reach out for help can be one of the hardest and bravest things you do. You can reach out by calling a hotline, online chat, or through texting. There are several local helplines available, including the Erie County and WNY Veterans Crisis Services’ 24-hour suicide prevention hotline. You can also access crisis support by texting GOT5 to 741741 or Got5U to 741741 for college students. These numbers are widely distributed and displayed in schools, clinic waiting rooms, and on mobile phones.
365 days a year
Crisis Text Line serves individuals all across the United States and is accessible by anyone with a cell phone. Individuals in crisis can access this service by texting HOME to 741741. Individuals can also reach out to a counselor via Facebook Messenger. This number can be found on the CDC’s website and is listed in Cosmopolitan, American Eagle, HBO’s Euphoria and on the suicide prevention page of New York State’s website.
While volunteers may have degrees in counseling or social work, they do not hold a formal professional relationship with the people who use the service. Instead, they create a conversation that includes empathy and collaboration. They de-escalate the situation, and help individuals to identify their own solutions and safety plans. They don’t push for medical services or encourage self-harm and don’t pry into details of a person’s life. Instead, they encourage a texter to talk about whatever is on their mind. The average session lasts between 45 and 60 minutes.