By Renee Ruffin-Price
For: AL DIA TODAY
People of all ages can use the free CRISIS TEXT LINE that’s available 24/7, to communicate with a Crisis Counselor, who will respond via text messages about whatever is a crisis to you, such as, anxiety, addiction, bullying, depression, self-harm or suicide. TO REACH OUT TO A TRAINED CRISIS COUNSELOR, YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD “HELLO” TO 741741. THIS SERVICE IS NOW OFFERED IN SPANISH!
The Crisis Counselor will listen without judgement and will invite you to share more to help you move from a “hot moment” to a “cool calm.” You’ll text back and forth, sharing only what you feel comfortable.
The first responses are automatic, but you’ll connect with a live Counselor, usually in less than five minutes.
Helping you find calm might mean sharing resources or making a referral for you to check out for more in-depth help. Your calmness might come because you’ve connected with someone who is trained to help you sort through your feelings.
The Crisis Counselors are trained volunteers, not professionals, who can provide support, but not medical advice. Their goal is to help you begin to feel calm and safe.
If your cell phone plan is AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon, texts to the code 741741 are free. If you have a different carrier, standard text message rates apply. If your phone carrier does not enable the Crisis Text Line, you can connect with the service on Facebook Messenger by searching crisistextline then press Message.
IF YOU PREFER TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE, YOU CAN DIAL 211 OR 1-800-273-TALK (8255) AND TALK TO A HELPLINE SPECIALIST.
Article submitted on April 24, 2022, by Renee’ Ruffin-Price, Community Advocate for Children, for the May issue of Al Dia Today