bethepeople
The Life-Changing
Impact of Volunteering
Table of contents #
Someone needs you today. You can help change and save lives. #
Every day, people across the country are reaching out in their darkest moments and it takes just one text, and a community of volunteers, to change the direction of that moment. As a trained volunteer Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line, you’ll step into one of the most meaningful roles there is: showing up for a stranger with empathy, guidance, and understanding.
From your laptop, on your own schedule, you can help someone find the strength to keep going.
Don’t just take our word for it — hear directly from the volunteers who are already stepping up, one conversation at a time.
Volunteering is Good for You and Great for Your Community. #
Click each benefit for more informaton
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Mental health training is at the heart of what we do – and it’s virtual and completely free. In just three weeks, you’ll build real skills: active listening, emotional intelligence, crisis de-escalation, and practical coping strategies. You’ll also learn how to identify and manage stress, anxiety and depression so you can show up confidently for yourself and others. That’s how we make sure every person who reaches out gets the high-quality, compassionate support they deserve. These aren’t just tools for the people you’ll support as a volunteer. They’re skills you’ll carry into every relationship in your life – with friends, family, coworkers, and your own mental health.
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No commute. No office. No rigid schedule. Volunteer on your own terms. Crisis Text Line is 100% remote and runs 24/7, so you can volunteer whenever and wherever it works best for you, making a meaningful impact that fits into your own schedule.
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Volunteering is remote, but you’re far from alone. When you join Crisis Text Line, you join a movement of thousands of dedicated volunteer Crisis Counselors and mental health professionals who have your back every step of the way. Share best practices, swap insights, and get support from people who truly understand the work. Because the stronger our community, the stronger the support we can offer to everyone who reaches out. Together, you’re not just supporting people in need. You’re building something bigger.
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Mental health support should have no language barrier, yet nearly 45 million people in the US speak Spanish at home and deserve access to real, compassionate mental health support in the language they feel most comfortable in. Crisis Text Line offers bilingual volunteer opportunities for those fluent in both written English and Spanish, so we can make sure no one gets left out when they need support. As a bilingual volunteer, you’ll double your reach, sharpen your language skills, and show up for communities that need you today. Learn more about supporting texters as a bilingual volunteer Crisis Counselor.
What’s It Like to Volunteer with Crisis Text Line #
Not sure what you’re signing up for? That’s okay, most of our volunteers feel the same way on day one. What you’ll find is that the journey is more rewarding than you’d expect, and the skills you build along the way will stick with you long after your last shift.
Every volunteer learns:
- Nonjudgmental communication
- Active listening
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Safety planning
And you’re never doing it alone. During every shift, a trained supervisor is right there with you – ready to answer questions and step in whenever you need support. A dedicated support team also has your back for debriefs, guidance, and anything else that comes up along the way.
Hear directly from our experienced volunteers about their journey and the impact it had on their lives.
“I volunteer for Crisis Text Line because practicing empathy and reflective listening makes me a better friend, partner and employee.”
Volunteer Crisis Counselor
“The support from the community of volunteers, support team and, supervisors is huge. Seeing texters go from hot desperation to a quieter calm in a conversation is priceless.”
Volunteer Crisis Counselor
Ready to Be There for Someone? Let’s Get You Started! #
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already the kind of person we’re looking for. Joining the Crisis Text Line volunteer community is straightforward, all you need is a personal computer and secure, reliable internet connection. We accept applications on a rolling basis and you’ll be able to start training as soon as your application is approved. We’re always looking for new dedicated volunteers to join us, so don’t wait. Take the first step today and be the person someone needs tomorrow.
Step 1: Submit an Application
Create an account and complete the volunteer Crisis Counselor application (which should take approximately 20 minutes), where you’ll tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to this work. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live in the U.S. Once your application is approved, we’ll email you with next steps.
Step 2: Complete Our Free Training
Enroll in and complete our mental health training, which is designed to fit your life and prepare you for the important work we do. It’s broken down into manageable segments that can be completed on your schedule.
- We’ll teach you techniques like active listening and reflecting, and how to work with people experiencing things like anxiety, depression, bullying. self-harm, and suicide ideation. The training modules contain videos, quizzes, role plays and more so you’ll feel fully prepared to support people in need. Throughout the training, you’ll be fully supported by our learning team, who is there every step of the way to answer questions, provide feedback, and make sure you’re feeling confident in the skills you’re building.
- Training takes about 15 hours and you’ll have three weeks to complete it. Typically applicants are able to enroll and start training right away, so we ask that you evaluate your personal commitments and schedule before enrolling.
- A completed background check is also required as part of the training. To learn how we strive to protect the safety of our texters and our volunteer community, you can view our Volunteer Terms of Service & Privacy Policy here.
Step 3: Begin Supporting Texters
After completing the training, it’s time to start making an impact on the lives of others! Throughout your time with us, you’ll continue to build your skills and confidence each time you show up for someone who needs support. You’ll be able to say you’re changing lives, as you will gain a completely new perspective on mental health, armed with useful tools and supportive approaches for our texters, your loved ones and yourself.
