I started being a Crisis Hotline Texter right after the COVID-19 lockdown. A lot of my clinical experience and lab work took a pause, and I felt like I had no extracurriculars. I wanted to help and make an impact during this rather tough and unknown time. I came across this opportunity actually because I saw a TikTok about it (thank you TikTok!) and after 60 hours of training, I was ready to encounter my first real texter. It was daunting at first, but I soon fell in love with it. As someone who has always suffered with mental health, I know the importance in being able to talk to a third party without any judgment, and knowing I can help others with their problems or their dark thoughts has been really gratifying.
It is hard to get access to a mental health professional or a therapy appointment. Whether it is because insurance doesn’t cover the cost of a therapist or because a lot of private practices do not have enough appointments, this is a really pervasive issue in the US. There are resources out there, but it is hard to find the right and legit ones. In other words, the system is essentially broken. Being part of a free platform like Crisis Hotline has opened my eyes to all the components of this broken system and how mental health does not have the same “respect” as physical health. As someone entering the medical field, I realized it was my responsibility to be part of this organization and help individuals who lack access to such resources or simply do not know whether therapy is right for them.
For me, it is the feeling I get when I finish a shift. At one point after training, it becomes almost natural and seamless to embed your own advice into the conversation. I feel more fulfilled, as if I made a very imperative impact on even one person’s life. I also receive feedback, which again is one of the best feelings from the opportunity. The thank you messages go a long way for me and motivate me to keep going. Being a Crisis Texter is a lot of work and responsibility since you are talking to an actual person despite the laptop screen being a divider. It is a job I do not take lightly, and I hope others can join me.
The process is about six weeks along and there is a lot of training and practice conversations, so if you are interested, there is no need to be nervous or think you lack experience. The other counselors and supervisors on the platform are extremely helpful, and you can reach out to them whenever you need during a conversation. If you enjoy being a mental health advocate and can give four hours of your week helping those in emotional need, this is a great organization to be a part of.