Crisis Text Line
Model & Strategy
Crisis Text Line (CTL) serves anyone in crisis, providing them access to free 24/7 support and information they need, via a medium they already use and trust: text message. CTL uses new technology to address the age-old and poorly addressed issue of teen mental health. On the CTL platform, teens text one universal number which connects them to volunteer counselors across the country who are trained to offer support and professionally supervised. CTL is also able to capture data about adolescent mental health issues in the US, with the aim of improving the standard of care.
CTL is the only nationwide, free, 24/7/365 text line. No other response organization that converses with teens via text serves youth nationally, at all hours of the day, all days of the week, and all weeks of the year, for free. Additionally, CTL’s data is open and free to the public.
Nancy began her career by founding Dress for Success, an innovative welfare-to-work organization. Under Nancy’s leadership, Dress for Success grew to more than 140 affiliates in 14 countries, suiting over 1 million women. Nancy then took on the CEO role at DoSomething.org, implementing a turnaround that took the company from fledgling to thriving. DoSomething.org is now one of the biggest youth organizations in the world. When DoSomething.org began communicating with teenagers over text, the teenagers began opening up about their personal lives, many times about challenges they were facing at home or school. Nancy then realized the need for Crisis Text Line.
Nancy has been recognized by awards such as the Aspen Institute’s Crown Fellowship, Fast Company’s Social Capitalist Award, Forbes Magazine’s Trailblazer Award, and as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She was also recently named on Fortune’s “Worlds 50 Greatest Leaders” list. Nancy studied politics at Brown University, political theory at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar and has a law degree from New York University.
IMPACT
Crisis Text Line currently supports more than 5,000 conversations with texters in crisis each day; 145 million texts have been exchanged since operational launch in August 2013.
Each day, Crisis Text Line triggers about 40 active rescues, calling 911 to reach someone at imminent risk of suicide or homicide.
Crisis Text Line News
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Nancy Lublin Wins 2019 Skoll Award for Social EntrepreneurshipWith suicide claiming nearly 50,000 lives in the U.S. alone every year — more than twice the toll of homicide — Crisis Text Line saw…Apr 2019 -
Caltrain, Crisis Text Line Announce PartnershipCaltrain and Crisis Text Line announced a new partnership and the now-ubiquitous “There is Help” signs with suicide hotline numbers posted at local Caltrain stations…Nov 2016 -
Crisis Text Line Helps Teens in Crisis Through High-Tech HelplineThere’s a groundbreaking way for teens to find high-tech help when they need it urgently. It’s called Crisis Text Line (CTL), and its creators found…Jun 2016
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Crisis Text Line Just Raised $23.8 Million in GrantsCrisis Text Line, a free, around the clock text-messaging support line for people in crisis, is getting a massive new round of grants from notable…Jun 2016
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Crisis Text Line Featured on WebMD's Special Report: Teens and StressWebMD recently released a special report on how teens who are dealing with stress have been using text messaging to reach out for help when…Apr 2016
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For Teens in Crisis, the Next Text Could Be a LifesaverResearchers are excited about Crisis Text Line. “Young people have been reluctant to use crisis services,” observes Anthony Pisani, a suicide prevention researcher at the University…Sep 2015
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Crisis Text Line's Texts From Teens Build Real-Time Maps of Crisis in AmericaWhen texters first send a message, they receive an automated response welcoming them, offering up the service’s privacy policy, and showing them how to opt…May 2015
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CEO of DoSomething.org Nancy Lublin Moves to Crisis Text LineAfter 12 years as chief executive of the youth volunteerism charity DoSomething.org, Nancy Lublin announced Tuesday that she is stepping down to take the helm at Crisis Text Line,…Apr 2015 -
New Yorker: How Crisis Text Line Harnesses the Power of the Texts to Help TeensDepression is common among teens, and its consequences are volatile: suicide is the third leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of ten and…Feb 2015
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40 Under 40: Young Leaders Who Are Solving the Problems of Today — and TomorrowIn January 2015, The Chronicle of Philanthropy named a number of DRK Foundation grantees to their first-ever “40 Under 40” list of young leaders from…Jan 2015
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Dear Crisis Counselor, Your kindness, compassion, and empathy mean more to this world than you’ll ever know. Today—… https://t.co/qYWPCpEDzy
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It’s okay that the holidays look a lot different this year. It’s okay if you had to change up your plans or miss ou… https://t.co/v0SmxcbGBF
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We’re thinking of everyone who has experienced the loss of a child. It's okay to feel how you feel. Grief is part o… https://t.co/jDJTtvqPzi
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The holidays can be a tough time of the year. Every week until the new year, we’ll be sharing a tip on how you can… https://t.co/FkS6uuDod6
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As we get closer to the holidays, prioritizing your well-being is extremely important. For this week’s Self-Care Su… https://t.co/YxoNykfpfY
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Today is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. We’re thinking of everyone who has experienced the loss of so… https://t.co/tgFURwhzuw
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Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Today, and every day, we honor and remember those lost to anti-transgender… https://t.co/fy0bQ0ual9
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Your worth is not based on how many likes you get.
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“I chose to show how to identify someone's empathy through their responses because not everyone expresses empathy i… https://t.co/ZnVMn4OJs8
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Give the same amount of time to yourself that you give to social media. You deserve to focus on yourself and your w… https://t.co/RZv407cosU
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Parents, you deserve to prioritize yourself and your well-being. For this week’s Self-Care Sunday, here are some wa… https://t.co/YS30zRhquv
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You deserve kindness.
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If you’re struggling with Seasonal Depression, there is hope. You don’t need to pack up and move to a sunny beach t… https://t.co/U3WVPgOxy4
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“Empathy — a trait I've had a love-hate relationship with for having an abundance of. Although it can feel overwhel… https://t.co/UqXgpqYJj4
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You give your all for us. On Veteran’s Day and every day, we are here for you. Veterans deserve empathy. Text VETS… https://t.co/kr8HnVZoCW