Volunteer Appreciation Month is a special time to recognize and celebrate the amazing individuals in the Crisis Text Line community who generously give their time and energy to help others in need of mental health support. Our volunteer Crisis Counselors are the quiet champions working behind the scenes, typically not asking for thanks but always making such a huge difference in the lives of others. Their dedication and empathy brings the hope and strength needed to overcome our texters’ darkest moments. This week, as part of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, let’s take a moment to pause and honor our extraordinary volunteer Crisis Counselors– and thank them for their steadfast commitment and incredible compassion.

If you are feeling inspired to join our efforts, learn more about our volunteer program and how to become a volunteer Crisis Counselor!

The Role of Volunteers in Crisis Intervention

Our volunteers are the first point of contact for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Their goal is to ensure those who are reaching out for support are brought from a hot moment to a cool calm through empathy and judgement-free support, and empowering each texter to use their own strengths and coping strategies.

With the high-pressure situations volunteer Crisis Counselors navigate during conversations, we place utmost priority on providing comprehensive training for our volunteers– a self-paced, 15-hour program that includes learning and practicing skills in reflective listening, collaborative problem-solving, and safety planning. This ensures our volunteers feel confident and equipped to offer support in difficult situations. They provide a safe and accessible space for texters to open up about struggles including stress, anxiety, substance use, relationships, bullying, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

A Supportive Community for Volunteers: Growth, Recognition, and Belonging

Our volunteers make everything we do at Crisis Text Line possible. They show up with empathy and strength, offering life-changing support to people in their most difficult moments. While we love having a dedicated time to celebrate them during Volunteer Appreciation Month, our gratitude doesn’t stop there. One of the ways we bring value to our volunteers is through the Crisis Text Line Community, a space designed to support their growth, mental health, and overall well-being to ensure our volunteers feel valued, supported, and empowered all year long.

Our Volunteer Community

Crisis Text Line offers a vibrant online community for all our active volunteer Crisis Counselors. It is a space to connect with thousands of like-minded individuals who are all driven by the same mission to make a difference. Within this community, volunteers can exchange ideas, attend events, learn valuable tips, celebrate wins, and receive encouragement and support from fellow volunteers and other Crisis Text Line staff. By being part of this space, volunteers not only grow in their own role, but also help build a supportive network that amplifies our shared impact.

Continuous Training and Development

Once our volunteers become trained Crisis Counselors, learning and growth doesn’t end there. Volunteers are regularly provided with opportunities for development through various workshops, webinars, and other resources. Additionally, we recognize how emotionally demanding the work can be, so Crisis Text Line makes every effort to ensure volunteers feel fully supported– including debriefing sessions after conversations, peer and supervisor support, and access to mental health resources.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Without our volunteers, Crisis Text Line would not be able to operate or help the millions of texters who have reached out for support. So this month, and every month, we celebrate, honor, and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our volunteer community.

A warm and sincere thank you to all of our volunteer Crisis Counselors– you are essential to the success of Crisis Text Line. Because of you, to date we have been able to support over 6 million people globally in their moments of crisis. Your time, effort, and emotional care is beyond measurable appreciation!

We are constantly looking for special ways to celebrate and acknowledge our volunteers– including volunteer appreciation events, shout-outs, and thank-you campaigns. In 2024, we launched our inaugural Mental Health Changemaker of the Year Award, which honors a member of our volunteer community for their extraordinary dedication, demonstration of empathy, and impact on their community.  Read more about our Changemakers award recipient– Dr. Sujana Reddy.

To celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we would also like to highlight our volunteers through sharing a few stories and quotes from some members of the Crisis Text Line volunteer community.

Meet Daniel, a volunteer Crisis Counselor who describes his experience becoming a volunteer for Crisis Text Line and how he has grown from it.

Meet Alex, a volunteer Crisis Counselor who shares her story about deciding to become a volunteer and how it aligns with her lifelong path to helping others.

View other members of our volunteer community, and read about their experiences as volunteer Crisis Counselors.

Without these and all our volunteer Crisis Counselors at Crisis Text Line, the support we are able to provide those experiencing a mental health crisis would be impossible.

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If you or someone you know is interested in making a lasting impact on the lives of others, consider joining our community of changemakers and become a volunteer!