Sometimes
Pain

Yes. Standard text rates do apply, though, if you don’t have an unlimited plan.

We’ll likely ask you for only three pieces of personal information, and you don’t have to provide any of them if you don’t want to—your ZIP code, your date of birth, and your first name. We ask these things only to be able to understand you better and to have the ability to suggest appropriate resources that you may find helpful.

We do not contact parents of teenage texters, nor do we make regular reports to law enforcement. For info on the rare instances when we must, by law, make a report, click here.

Yes. Every text conversation you have with us will be with a trained crisis counselor who will listen to you and help you deal with any challenges, concerns, feelings or fears you may have. Every text interaction is personalized to the specific situation and needs of each individual.

If you’re unable to text with us, you always have the option of talking to a counselor over the phone by calling 1-844-493-8255. You can always chat with us or give us a call at 1-844-493-8255. Or, to reach us via our web browser chat line, click here.

The text line is run by Colorado Crisis Services, Colorado’s statewide resource for immediate support and connection to further resources regarding any sort of emotional health, mental health, substance use or other area of crisis or concern.

Our counselors are caring well-trained professionals who love to help people through the problems and challenges of life. All of our counselors have a degree in a behavioral health field, have worked as phone counselors for a minimum of three months, and have received special training to offer text support on a variety of topics. Most of our counselors are in their 20s or 30s.

Typically, you’ll hear from a counselor within 2 to 3 minutes. If lines are especially busy for some reason and we can’t immediately support you through text, you’ll still receive an immediate response offering the option to either speak to a phone counselor immediately, or wait until a text counselor becomes available.

Currently, our text services are only available in English. If you send us a text in Spanish, you will receive a Spanish-language message suggesting that you call 1-844-493-8255. When you call that number, say the word “Spanish” to be connected to an interpreter for a phone counseling session.

Of course. This is your conversation, and we want you to feel comfortable so that we can understand your needs and how best to help you through them.

Your counselors will likely ask you your name, simply because it’s nice to know a name when having a personal conversation. (Your counselor will share his or her name with you as well.) However, giving your first name isn’t required.

Your counselor may also ask a few questions to get to know you better (such as your age and zip code), and that’s simply to help us understand how best to help you, what other services we may want to refer you to, and where our services are having an impact. But you aren’t required to share any personal info if you don’t want to.

There is no charge for using the text support line.

While there are similarities in the services we provide—especially being available 24/7—you don’t have to feel suicidal or have suicidal thoughts to use the text line. We provide support for anyone facing a situation that, in the moment, feels like it’s too much to handle alone.

The ONLY time we reach out to parents or anyone else is if we’re concerned for your immediate safety, or the safety of someone else. There is no specific situation (even thoughts of suicide or self-harm) for which we’ll certainly get a parent, first responder or anyone else involved. But if your counselor determines there is an immediate safety concern (for instance, if you have a weapon and are not willing to put it away), and your counselor believes that involving someone else will keep you safe, we will take this step. This is absolutely a last resort and not at all our goal or hope for the interaction. You are our first priority, and keeping our conversation confidential is extremely important to us.

At the end of a conversation, we’ll go over next steps and an overall plan in order to ensure you feel content and safe as you take on the rest of your day or night.

If it’s appropriate, before your exchange ends, the counselor will offer you the chance to schedule a follow-up text. This is completely your choice. It involves a counselor texting you later on, at your desired day and time, to see how you’ve been doing since our last conversation.

At the very end of your session, you’ll also get one question that asks you to rate the “helpfulness” of your text conversation. This feedback helps us analyze how we’re doing, and where we can improve.

You can text TALK to 38255 anytime you need support or feel that you’re in crisis. There is no limit to how often you can text. Because of work schedules and unpredictable demand, we can’t guarantee you will reach the same counselor when you text the next time. However, the counselor you reach will have access to notes from any previous conversations, so you don’t have to explain your entire situation again if you don’t want to.

Our counselors will not report your immigration status to law enforcement. If stress, anxiety or fear related to immigration status is a reason for your text, a counselor will work through those feelings with you, as with any other topic. If your text is NOT related to immigration status, it is unlikely that it will ever even come up at all in your conversation. If a counselor determines that you or someone you know is in immediate danger, it is possible that he or she might request assistance from law enforcement. But even in that scenario, immigration status should not be an issue.