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 Lublin founded Crisis Text Line in 2014. For 17 years, Dena drove strategic investments in philanthropic and social impact innovation at Omidyar Network. As an Investment Partner, she was the grant leader and board member for Crisis Text Line for five years. Dena became Interim CEO in 2020.
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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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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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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We are excited to be this year’s charity partner for @discord's annual #Snowsgiving! Learn more about Snowsgiving a… https://t.co/HIQQUhXYbV
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🚨 We’ve got a real need for volunteers on our platform 🚨 Start making a difference in someone's life today by signi… https://t.co/znCNVkKEPx
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Our very own CEO Dena Trujillo will be speaking this Wednesday at the annual @MilkenInstitute’s Future of Health Su… https://t.co/PyWvb2s9hG
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RT @mentalhealthcln: “The need is real, the need is dire” https://t.co/KSOM5ESr47 via @DonnaStGeorge and @valeriestrauss
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✨GIVING TIME GIVEAWAY✨ We’re aiming to have all hands on deck this holiday season 🎄 We want each and every texter… https://t.co/HwxystJppx