All you need is a computer, willingness to learn, and heart full of compassion.
In the United States alone, an estimated 16 million adults have experienced a major depressive episode – and that’s only the adults so we can surmise that the number is higher when children and teens are added!
Depression is also considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as among the top causes of disability worldwide with more than 320 million individuals affected.
Fortunately, there’s something you can actually do to help depressed people and others in a similar situation! You don’t even have to get out of your house to do your share! Here’s more information on how you can save lives from your computer as a crisis help counselor.
You Can Save Lives…. From Your Computer!
Crisis help counselors are trained volunteers who bring their education, training and work experience into aiding people in distress or in a depression. These people may be on the verge of either hurting themselves, such as in a suicide attempt or hurting someone else.
Emphasis must be made, however, that many crisis counselors aren’t psychologists and psychiatrists but they have been properly trained in crisis counseling. The training is provided by Crisis Text Text Line Company. It consists of 30 hours of web-based training. During training, prospective crisis counselors are taught be armed with collaborative problem solving, crisis management and reflective listening skills.
If you become a crisis counselor, you will have the opportunity to bring distressed or depressed people from a state of anxiety to a state of relative calmness. Your responsibilities can include but aren’t limited to the following:
• Offer supportive counseling for people who are in extremely stressful situations, such as when grieving for a beloved or dealing with a serious illness
• Listen to the emotions and experiences of people who have difficulty expressing their feelings during face-to-face interactions or who may feel lonely and left out, or who may have nobody else to talk to
• Provide references to third-party organizations, such as mental health clinics and hospitals, for people who may need them
• Call first-line responders, if necessary, when the person on the line seems to be in a dangerous situation, as in a suicide attempt
Indeed, you may be the only person that can prevent another person from taking his own life! How amazing is that??
How to Become a Crisis Counselor
Due to the heavy responsibilities that come from being a crisis helpline counselor, it’s among the most challenging yet rewarding jobs. You must be able to react in a calm and compassionate manner to a wide range of crisis situations, as well as quickly build a personal rapport with callers of the helpline.
You should also be able to determine the seriousness of a crisis situation and act accordingly.
While the personal traits of compassion, patience, and kindness can be developed in daily life, you have to undergo the appropriate training to become a good crisis helpline counselor.
According to the Crisis Text Line site, you will need to complete the 30-minute application (including references) and consent to a background check.
My Experience So Far
Currently, I’m going through the training portion and it is very informative. My supervisor has checked in with me regarding my progress periodically.
The training is very structured and organized. It includes videos, simulations, and detailed feedback! I’m quite impressed so far and I will keep you all updated!
I see this an opportunity to give back and also I believe that this will strengthen my skills as a Psychiatric Nurse.