New text message line used to help those in crisis

Mental Matters
By Dr. Jennifer Goble

Many people, kids, and adults alike, are in crisis.

Children and young adults can feel hopelessness and pressure regarding test scores, athletic performance, adult expectations, and college acceptance, just to name a few. They can also struggle with love relationships and maintaining friends in general.

Adults can feel similar emotions while dealing with grownup issues.

Texting is the current means of communicating for teens, adults, and even grandparents. Crisis statistics and knowing how people tend to talk, motivated Nancy Lublin to start Crisis Text Line (CTL) where counselors are available 24/7, seven days a week, every day of the year. Ingenious idea.

Go to www.ted.com, search for Nancy Lublin to learn more.

Intrigued, I applied to become a volunteer texting counselor and completed the six-week training at www.crisistextline.org.

I have been online now for 9 weeks and feel comfortable recommending CTL to anyone who has thoughts of suicide, self-harm, sexual orientation concerns, relationship issues, bully-ing, family conflict, anxiety, etc.

There are currently 1,500 coun-selors volunteering their time to help save lives by texting people in crisis.

http://www.crisistextline.org/faq/ addresses the most frequently asked questions. Basically: You text 741741 when in crisis. Anywhere, anytime. A live, trained crisis counselor re-ceives the text and quickly responds.

The crisis counselor helps you move from a hot moment to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy using effective active listening and suggested referrals – all through text message using Crisis Text Line’s secure platform.

Who should use the Crisis Text Line? “We exist to help anyone in crisis at any time.” Please give the number to anyone and everyone. Tell teachers, clergy, and every person, young and old. YOU could help save a life. Text 741741 – simple as that.

I also want to encourage anyone who has time and would like to counsel someone in crisis to check it out: www.crisistextline.org/volunteer. The company is growing rapidly and needs volunteers. Their card reads, “You don’t need a PhD or a cape to save a life.”

If you are a compassionate, good listener, willing to dedicate time to the excellent training, and like to help people, go online and see if Crisis Text Line is for you. They ask for a commitment of one year and four hours a week.

I am SO glad I accepted the challenge. Until the next time: Live while you live!

(Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of My Clients…My Teachers, and the blogger and encourager of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.)

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