Texters are paired with a volunteer Crisis Counselor who will listen and support them. They aren’t doctors or therapists but they can help with things like anxiety, depression and fears. The conversation can last as long as they need to.
We surveyed Crisis Text Line volunteers to understand how volunteering with the organization shapes their lives, relationships and communities. Their responses paint a picture of an invaluable and impactful service.
Text STEVE to 741741
Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential, and anonymous mental health support through texting. Trained Crisis Counselors are ready to listen and respond 24/7.
Taking that first step to ask for help can be the hardest, but also most brave thing you ever do. It’s not always a life-threatening situation; it might be an anxiety attack or feelings of depression, thoughts of self harm or a family issue that is impacting your overall emotional well-being.
In 2011, Nancy Lublin, CEO of a youth empowerment organization, got a heart-wrenching text message from a young woman in need. This experience inspired her to create Crisis Text Line, the first national, 24/7 crisis-intervention hotline that conducts its conversations (the majority of which are with teens) via text messaging only. Using big data and the dominant communication medium of today’s world, Crisis Text Line reaches underserved populations — particularly those in rural areas and those whose incomes skew below poverty levels.
Text UMICH to 741741
Each year over 65 million Americans silently struggle with mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bullying and suicidal thoughts. Many people don’t seek help because of the stigma attached to mental illness, or a lack of resources in their area.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students, faculty, and staff of the University of Michigan can text UMICH to 741741, which will connect them with a trained crisis counselor. The service is free, anonymous and confidential.
Qvistgaard logs on from her home in Davis, California, four times a week and spends an hour with a caller whose text conversation may range from an expression of school or workplace anxiety to a story of sexual assault or domestic violence. She responds with questions, empathy, and encouragement.
The number will be featured on the back of U-M student ID cards, and local partners are promoting it as well. For example, the San Francisco Giants are raising awareness at the stadium and with their large social media following.
Text 4UMICH to 741741
The county’s co-branded text line will give Marin youth access to a nationally recognized crisis counseling service. The service is free and anonymous and can be used by anyone. Those who choose to use the text line are connected with a trained crisis counselor via text, who can help them deal with anxiety, depression, substance abuse or suicidal thoughts.
These text lines are staffed by volunteers who complete training and have to log in from their own personal phones and computers. They must be able to deescalate or diffuse the situation and transfer the texter to a local mental health professional.
But the very nature of texting reveals a key limitation in these services. The lack of tone, facial expressions and other physical cues can make it difficult for crisis operators to understand how serious a person’s needs are. This can lead to inappropriate advice and a lack of empathy, which is especially important given that most of the texters are teens.
Text HELP to 741741
Crisis Text Line (CTL) provides free, confidential 24/7 texting support for people in crisis. Anyone can text 741741 anytime, anywhere to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Texters can share anything – from feelings of depression and anxiety to thoughts of self-harm. A CTL volunteer will respond with empathetic and compassionate listening. They will help the texter move from a hot moment to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy by providing resources, suggesting referrals, and helping them navigate local services.
The CTL texting service is anonymous and free, although standard messaging rates may apply. Texting is a preferred way to communicate for many people, especially youth. The County’s partnership with Crisis Text Line gives us access to a data dashboard that will provide us with community-level information on trends and impact, with no individual-level identifying information. The information will be used to better inform mental health and safety efforts in Marin. It will also be used to evaluate and improve the service in response to community needs.