Crisis Text Line

Crisis Text Line is a non-profit organization providing free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Users in the United States can text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. The service is also available in the United Kingdom and Canada.

History

Crisis Text Line was founded in August 2013 by Nancy Lublin, who previously created Dress for Success and DoSomething. The idea for the text line came from a DoSomething initiative, where Lublin noticed that young people were sending in personal and sometimes urgent texts. Recognizing the need for a service that could provide immediate, secure, and free support, Lublin created Crisis Text Line.

How it Works

When a texter sends a message to Crisis Text Line, an algorithm reviews and prioritizes the text based on urgency. The text is then directed to a trained volunteer crisis counselor who provides support and helps the texter create a plan to stay safe. Conversations typically last around 45 minutes to an hour.

Training

Crisis Text Line counselors undergo a rigorous 30-hour, six-week training course that covers a range of topics including active listening, collaborative problem solving, and crisis management. This training prepares counselors to handle a variety of crisis situations, including suicide ideation, self-harm, abuse, and mental health issues.

Impact

Since its inception, Crisis Text Line has processed over 100 million messages. The organization uses data from these messages to improve its services and to provide insights on mental health trends to partners and policymakers.

See Also

• Suicide prevention
• Mental health
• Text messaging
• Non-profit organization