I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression for more than 20 years. I’ve even called suicide prevention lines for help. During one incident two years ago, I didn’t want anyone in my family to hear me say I was considering harming myself. So I turned to the Crisis Text Line.
The Crisis Text Line was founded by Nancy Lublin in 2013, when she was the CEO of Do Something, an organization that gets young people involved in their communities. It sent mass texts about volunteer opportunities, and teens sometimes replied, asking for advice. Nancy realized some people—like the hearing impaired and victims of domestic violence—might be more comfortable and safer texting than calling for help.
Crisis Text Line volunteers get 30 hours of training before answering messages. Supervisors have a master’s in a relevant field or crisis intervention experience. If someone is in need of immediate help, the counselors reach out to emergency departments after helping the texter make a safety plan.
I sent a text to 741741 and explained what was wrong. The crisis counselor was patient and asked great questions. By the end of the conversation, she’d given me suggestions that I still use. I’m grateful this modern way to get help exists.
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