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Crisis Text Line has a rating of 1.3 stars from 73 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Crisis Text Line most frequently mention mental health, and long time problems. Crisis Text Line ranks 129th among Non Profit sites.
Texting the crisis text line connects you to a real person anonymously. The 1st make sure you are safe and not going to hurt yourself. Then they talk to you as long as you need to get over the "hump" of anxiety, depression, fears or whatever it is you are dealing with. I have used this service several times and it always helps to know that there is someone who cares enough to take the time to talk to a stranger, free of charge. They take time away from their own life to help others going through a hard time.
I have an exceptionally hard time believing this is a real person who thinks my name might be Mania. It's like this every call. In the end, they don't listen and give you resources outside of that you need.
It feels like you're being rushed as others have said, basically if you're suicidal they'll answer you quickly anything else is awhile. And beyond that it's the same conversation every time and they have went the route of rehearsed and scripted to get through people rather than actually talking to and connecting to people in crisis situations. If you're not actively about to end your life you're sent pre-written scripts until they can get rid of you. I'm sure the volunteers really do care and probably hate how it's set up, but the actual whole system side itself does not care about those at risk.
Last time I was in crisis I tried the Trevor Project chat online and it was AMAZING. They talked to me like a human being and were actually able to help me and I never felt rushed, so it's awesome to know there's a chat option that's actually helpful as calls give me anxiety at the best of times let alone if I'm in a low place. I'm queer so Trevor Project is also good in that area but honestly if you're doing awful and need someone I'd recommend staying clear of Crisis Text Line.
Tip for consumers:
Anticipate being rushed through and not being talked to as an individual by another person. They seem to really push not to talk to people who reach out as a fellow person as a way to avoid talking about yourself, but it also completely removes the sense of someone empathizing and understanding.
Two hour wait to be accused of being aggressive and misusing the system, then threatened with suspension.
Tip for consumers:
Don't use this site.
There are multiple crisis lines without a two hour wait.
Products used:
Nothing except wasting hours I should have been sleeping.
The agent refused to explain what I said that was aggressive.
Stating that I had been waiting for two hours was a factual statement.
This is almost 2 AM and I have been waiting for Crisis Counsellor to come on chat for more than one hour and 14 minutes and every 15 minutes Robo message show up telling i am still in line - take deep breath - etc., if this is supposed to be addressing crisis 75 minutes are definitely not acceptable. I have sent the conversation for review by FACEBOOK and let us see if there is any one who actually reads it. I think this is a scam. After a long wait like this people will get bored or sleep or worse they suffer consequences of crisis IS THIS A JOKE? IF IT IS, IT IS A VERY CRUEL AND NEGLIGENT ONE
I just want to make it crystal clear how absolutely mindbogglingly pathetic mental health care is, expecially when it comes to *******:
This is my last time trying. There was at least a five minute pause between each responce. I asked for resources on coming down from mania, and I just get questions, including asking me the same damned question I asked them. 25 minutes passed by the time this guy recommended a counselor or peer group. Chats are timed at 45 min max. Ive had these idiots hang up on me right after recommending a nice walk AFTER I SAID I WAS AGORSPHOBIC!
Everything is a script. Questions are never answered. I always feel agitated, helpless, and far worse afterwards. EVEN SUICIDAL.
The only damned thing ******* does is tell you to call 911 if you are a danger to yourself, or how to breathe or ground yourself, which you probably already know.
Therapyaid dot com has free worksheets and are WAY more helpful. Or, call the voice line at 988 instead.
They say it takes only 5 mins tops...Hah! NOPE! That's a lie for sure. As a former Crisis Counselor, you better not violate any policy, even on accident, or say anything off of the script or you'll get the axe quicker than you can, "You're so brave for reaching out. You got this.", even if you don't "got this". They hurry you up unless you used to get a caring Counselor like me who let you take your time and didn't speak robotically. They said I went "rogue"! Really? I wasn't even the one who supposedly went rogue, my niece impersonated me when she came home drunk and SHE definitely went rogue. I didn't even waste my time trying to explain. The Crisis Counselor Policy Review Committee, sent me a nasty email saying I committed a severe offense. I thought I was going to be arrested or something! I'm sad to go, especially since it wasn't me who was texting, but do you really think they'd ever believe that? Not worth my breath and don't want to get the person who did it in trouble. She works for another crisis line.
Tip for consumers:
Don't go on here after 12 am or you'll be waiting for a counselor for hours!
Products used:
This is a Crisis Text Line for those in crisis.
I already wanted to die enough and they don't do anything to help. They say i matter and then continue to give up on me. Counselor after counselor. They dont care.
Responses were very generic and vague. I would not recommend this service at all unless you want to waste your time, have a bad experience, or lose more hope in humanity.
As a volunteer crisis counselor, this organization has good intentions but horrible supervision. The supervisors constantly tell you to rush through each conversation... EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO TEXTERS WAITING IN THE QUEUE! They rather you finish each conversation within 45 mins than to actually take the time and effort with the texter, who is in crisis. Each texter is experiencing different levels of crisis, so rushing a counselor with the conversation sounds very uncaring.
Update: Isabel's response as a supervisor claims they don't rush the volunteers. Lucky for me I kept the email from last year and uploaded the picture to prove her wrong.
1. Called, feeling suicidal, volunteer told me to be quiet and not curse, despite me wanting to kill myself? I wasnt cursing at him, I was just cursing while I was venting. He then told me cursing was not allowed. I cannot imagine hes been helpful to anybody. He then told me that it would be my choice if I were to hang up and kill myself. Unbelievable.
2. Texted that same day, feeling suicidal, person essentially told me "that sucks, Im sorry" and then said there was nothing they could do to help me.
3. My fiancé called, feeling suicidal and urges to drink again (alcoholic), talked about his family problems, then the crisis center person said that if he wasnt drinking, his parents would love him and all of his problems would go away, and that it was his fault. Never have I wanted to kill someone more.
4. Texted today after losing my place in the chat with RAINN multiple times AND calling them only to get lines that werent even crisis centers. Immediately after I said what I was dealing with, they put words in my mouth and literally said to me how they decided I was feeling about my own rape. What the hell.
There needs to be something done about this. I could have died due to their negligence and no one would have known. I'll be speaking to a lawyer about the legality of this situation.
Tip for consumers:
Realize that these are VOLUNTEERS and that they are not well trained at all. These people are told what to copy/paste into their textboxes and what to read aloud in the beginning of the conversation, and then they have their own opinions. Therapists, psychiatrists and crisis workers are professionals. They are trained to separate themselves from their work to deliver unbiased care to those who need it and are in the worst and most difficult and painful moments of their lives.
I didn't know the magic words to get help, apparently. In the first message I explained that I was a sexual abuse survivor struggling with my memories of the abuse and that I wanted to cut myself or drink myself into a stupor. I also explained that I have a child, so I really didn't want to as well. It was 3am and I couldn't sleep and I was about to cut myself. The first response from Brian was that I was unclear, to explain the problem better. I did so, again, in short texts. He said that I seemed preoccupied and perhaps I should text later. He didn't see what the problem was. I said I probably wouldn't do that and to end the session. At that point I was so hurt by his dismissal and my own horrible state that I couldn't tell him that he had made everything worse by dismissing me. I complained to the crisis line later, but I got no reply beyond a bot. The experience was damaging to someone who has a hard time talking about my problems and trusting others anyway, and I know people like me are not uncommon. Don't bother texting unless you plan on saying "I'm going to kill myself in the next few minutes" or something extremely easy to understand. Truthfully, I would have been better off talking to a comforting bot.
The first time i tried this, it was 12 am. I was crying hard that night, shaking, breathing heavily. I was incredibly suicidal. They took THREE WHOLE HOURS to answer back! A lot can happen in 10 minutes let alone 3 effin hours. I hadn't responded back because all my crying tired me out and i fell asleep. The line texts me back about 12 times over a 45 minute period. I'm not sure if this person cared but the next encounter I had, I really do feel like the furst person actually cared.
The second time i texted the line I only had to wait 10 minutes. I texted at 11:30 pm. I sent a message about my issues. I get a response but it seems the person on the other end did not receive my message. I told him i will resend it. He gets this message. I resend my other message. Again be doesn't get it. So he says it seems I do not want to talk anymore and ends the chat there. Both times this place has the gall to ask for a review. I was fuming. I ended up crying because i felt even more alone. I do not recommend this place.
As sad and ironic as it is, I felt more validated and heard reading these one- and two-star reviews about how bot-like and scripted the responses from the counselors feel than said bot-like and scripted responses I got when I used the crisis line. I understand that this isn't supposed to be a substitute for professional help, but it isn't that for me. In fact, I've actually been getting professional help for almost 15 years. I wasn't expecting a miracle cure, but I was at least expecting more than what I could've found with a google search of "reasons not to off yourself", or "validating quote generator". I was at the very least, also, expecting the counselor to check with me and see if their "advice" was actually helpful. It wasn't, and they didn't. They didn't even make sure that I was no longer in crisis. I had reached out due to feeling like I wasn't worthy of anyone's time, but that wasn't what I was trying to validate, I was trying to find ways to invalidate that mindset. The superficial nature of the responses I got made me feel even worse, so I ended up just reaching out to the government funded line once the counselor ended the connection without any warning. Save yourself the time and emotional turmoil and just reach out to 988.
I've included images of my full conversation, and only censored PII. A lot of the PII I had to censor takes out the issues that they ignored, so there is some context missing in that regard. The minimal censoring I had to do for their responses should be a bit jarring though at the very least.
Hi Jordyn. We take all feedback extremely seriously. Thank you for taking the time to reach out. Our volunteer Crisis Counselors are trained to bring individuals from hot moment to cool calm through nonjudgmental support. Our volunteers empower each person to use their own strengths and coping strategies. Each volunteer has completed 30 hours of comprehensive training that focuses on empathy and active listening including collaborative problem-solving and safety planning. Also, our volunteers are supported by clinical supervisors that monitor every conversation. We truly hope that if you are ever in need again, you will reach out to us. We are available 24/7.
The treatment of the supervisors on this platform is truly embarrassing. While there are 3 or 4 that were decent the vast majority rushed counselors through conversations. There was rarely a time the supervisors wouldn't speed you through a conversation, even when there were several available counselors to take any new convos. The chat could be 15, 30, 45 mins deep. It didn't matter. Their main goal was to rack up completed conversations. Some of the coaches and supervisors where grossly inappropriate as well. I was disgusted by the tone of their messages and their overall lack of self awareness. While I am sure they think having a masters degree sets them apart, they should be reminded that so do hundreds of their crisis counselors. I just completed my PhD in education and worked as a counselor (LPC) for 7 years. And as someone who has also been trained in the profession, I truly think it needs to be said: You are better than no one. You are supposed to be someone people can reach out to for support and guidance. Instead, you use your role on an online platform to bully others. It is shameful. Please, soften your hearts towards the people who need you. People with true intelligence know how to kindly treat others.
I'm not gonna say the crisis I'm experiencing for private reasons but I tried TWICE texting *******- both of which never responded in over an hour of waiting. I understand a lot of mental health crisis' happen at night but that shouldn't make my crisis feel invaluable or invalid at all- and, it certainly shouldn't go unseen! Even now, I'm still waiting for the second persons response- absolutely NO ONE STILL. This is truly unbelievable and downright sick. I need advice and support, and a good safe space to vent. But what I got? A message saying "You are still being connected to a counselor" and hours of waiting for NOTHING. If anything, I could've slept this stress off and asked my mom for help- if it weren't 3:30 in the morning, instead of waiting for this thing for absolutely nothing. I fully FULLY recommend not doing this. Plus, the people all sound like bots too. The way the messages are all usually the same or go in the same general direction? Like- if that isn't a bot or scripted, than idek what is. Do not do this! I recommend calling a crisis line so you can hear an actual person who might even answer sooner- and Trevortext.
Tip for consumers:
Don’t even bother. -Said at 3:46 AM but sent my second crisis start at 2:29 AM with still no response. Just don’t. It isn’t worth your time.
This is Horrible service they should just shut this down I felt mocked! Not professionals with experience.
Your feedback is extremely important to us. We are sad to hear that you didn’t feel supported during your conversation with one of our crisis counselors. All our crisis counselors complete 30 hours of comprehensive training and are supervised by clinical staff supervisors. Hopefully, you will give us a second chance. We are here for you 24/7.
I texted in last night. Took over an hour to get someone on with me. And honestly ended call and still felt like I was in crisis.
Won't be messaging shout again feel let down and gold psychologist today but thought I would try again. Feel let down be again
They keep records of your texts and will block your phone number randomly. Sometimes they can help you but, normally not.
Tip for consumers:
They record your data
Products used:
Textinf
They called EMS on me I hate it. They should ducking stay away. Like they don't understand at all like the person who I talked to made me worse
Did not help me at all. All they did was text me automated text messages and didn't relate to my needs at all. Useless.
Thousands of 18-22 year olds who learn a formula, canned lines, and how to send a google resource--use NAMI or natiional suicide prevention line
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We sincerely apologize to hear about the frustration you've recently encountered when you utilized our service. Our aim is to connect all texters with a volunteer Crisis Counselor within five minutes. Rest assured, your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to enhancing our service. Your well-being remains our priority, and we urge you to reach out again if you need support. You can text SHARE to 741741 or reach out via web chat here: connect.crisistextline.org/chat.