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Parents, Share This Crisis Text Line Number with Your Teens
Teens Find Vital Support Through Crisis Text Line
A mental health text line is making it easier for teens to access counseling and support when they need it the most—anonymously and conveniently. Parents always want to be there for their kids, especially during tough times filled with anxiety, depression, or crises. However, sometimes teens prefer to reach out to someone other than Mom and Dad. That’s where the Crisis Text Line steps in, offering free help from trained counselors.
This nonprofit organization focuses on modern mental health support through text messaging and primarily targets teens in the U.S., although anyone with a cellphone can access it. Since its launch in August 2013, users have sent nearly 7.5 million texts to counselors. As Nancy Lublin, the former CEO of DoSomething.org, shared with Mashable, “We get a lot of people in the heat of the moment, when they are about to get really angry or they’re about to have a panic attack.”
The Crisis Text Line originated from DoSomething.org after Lublin received a shocking text in 2011 that revealed a dire need for a mobile platform aimed at helping teens. A girl reached out, disclosing her father’s abuse. “We realized with that message that it was time to create counseling based around texting,” she noted. Years later, Lublin still hasn’t heard from that girl but is motivated to reach as many teens as possible through the Crisis Text Line. “I want her to know that her courage inspired this whole thing. Thanks to her, we are saving a lot of other people.”
Currently, the organization boasts 1,500 counselors in the U.S. who have undergone extensive training to assist callers in navigating their most intense moments. As Lublin pointed out, “People are sitting in a cafeteria or a Starbucks and you think they are texting their mom. But they are actually texting us.”
The text line has proven to be an effective way to connect with kids. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly three-quarters of teens have a smartphone, and just 12% of teens aged 13 to 17 have no cell phone at all. When they reach out, they often discuss issues like bullying, sexuality, and substance abuse. However, counselors also work with emergency responders about eight times a day for more serious situations like suicidal thoughts.
Despite the involvement of police or EMTs in crises, the communication between users and the Crisis Text Line remains anonymous. Counselors use a secure, encrypted platform that keeps their personal computers free from users’ phone numbers. Lublin emphasized, “We have a special relationship with all the major mobile carriers, where you aren’t charged a fee, we aren’t charged a fee and it doesn’t even show up on your bill.”
Texting offers a discreet way for teens to seek help without drawing attention. Onlookers might just assume they are scrolling through social media or playing a game. “We tend to get a lot of texts every day around lunchtime,” Lublin added.
Having had an amazing guidance counselor as a confidant during my own teen years, I can’t help but think how beneficial this text line would have been for many of us. It’s essential for parents to ensure their teens have access to every form of support available.
To learn more about the Crisis Text Line or how to become a counselor, check out their site here. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or explore additional resources like those offered by this excellent guide on pregnancy and home insemination. You can also find helpful information at this authoritative site on home insemination kits.
Summary
The Crisis Text Line provides vital support for teens in need of mental health assistance through anonymous text messaging. With trained counselors available to help, teens can reach out about various issues, including anxiety and depression, without the fear of being judged. This service is especially important as many teens prefer texting over traditional communication methods. By sharing this resource, parents can ensure their teens have the support they need in challenging times.