Does my Crisis “Count?”

CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation and self-harm.

“I’m sorry for wasting your time–”

“I don’t mean to be a burden–”

“I’m not sure if this counts as a crisis–”

As a Crisis Text Counselor, I receive messages like this almost every shift. Often, they seem to come from the people who need these services the most. I wish I could tell every person who reaches out that these services exist so that they can use them, and that this is why we’re all here–to help support people through mental health struggles. 

Of course, wait times can be an issue for mental health hotlines, and I understand the hesitancy to reach out about what’s on your mind to a complete stranger on the other end of the line. On the other hand, the term “mental health crisis” can feel nonspecific or intense, and often thoughts such as “what I’m experiencing isn’t that bad, other people have it worse” can creep into the forefront of someone’s mind before they ask for help. At the end of the day, I hope to help whoever I come across without judgment, and I hope that anyone who needs our support feels comfortable reaching out.

It can help to consider what each service is specifically geared towards, and how they describe the use of their services. For example, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline describes itself as intended for “mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns”. Other services may have a specific focus, such as for suicidal ideation or domestic violence. In contrast to crisis lines, there are also mental health warmlines available that provide support for less immediate or non-crisis concerns. Warmline.org can connect you with a warmline, which offers broad support for people experiencing issues such as “distress or loneliness, or those seeking validation from a peer with lived experience”. 

In general, it’s best to reach out to the organization that might be most suited to your particular situation–however, if you’re unsure about which service to contact, that’s ok – in a high-stress moment, what matters is reaching out for support. I definitely encourage everyone to opt towards reaching out whenever you feel like you’re in need, and if necessary, someone on the line can connect you with other services. 

Some questions you can consider before deciding to reach out are: 

• Do I feel really overwhelmed, and am I having a difficult time processing my emotions? 
• Do I feel like hurting or harming myself?
• Do I have something I just need to get off my chest, and don’t know who I can talk to about it? 
• Do I need mental health resources? I might, but I don’t know where to find them

There are no specific criteria you need to check off to reach out for help, but these questions may help you reflect on  

A mental health crisis can take many forms, and all are deserving of care and support. On any given shift, I may speak to someone who is actively considering harming themselves, who is having a difficult time processing their emotions, who recently experienced something difficult and wants to talk to someone about it, who is looking for resources on behalf of someone else, and many more. In my experience, if you feel in need of support or if you think something could be a crisis, it’s worth reaching out about. 

If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance use or an emotional crisis, help is available. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to speak with a caring counselor 24/7.