How to volunteer on a crisis line

This page is about volunteering. If you need help yourself right now, call or text 988, free and confidential, 24/7. For Spanish, dial 988 and press 2 (988lifeline.org). In danger right now? Call 911. DNLH is not a crisis line.

What does a crisis line volunteer do?

You answer calls, texts or chats from people who are upset, overwhelmed, or thinking about suicide. You listen, help them calm down, help them stay safe, and connect them to more help. You are not a therapist. Trained staff supervise you and step in when needed.

Some volunteer counselors answer for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through local crisis centers. Didi Hirsch, for example, says its volunteer counselors help people through 988 after extensive training (Didi Hirsch).

Can I do it from home?

Yes, with some programs.

Programs change often. Check each program's page before you plan around it.

What you need to volunteer from home:

• Crisis Text Line: a personal computer and reliable internet (crisistextline.org).
• The Trevor Project: a personal laptop or desktop with at least 8GB of RAM (not a tablet, phone, school, work or public computer), Chrome, a secure private internet connection, and a private space. You must work your shifts from inside the U.S. (thetrevorproject.org).
• Didi Hirsch: comfort using computers; the process may include a computer skills check and interviews (Didi Hirsch).

A private space matters. Callers share very personal things. No one else should be able to hear or see the conversation.

How do I apply?

The steps are similar everywhere:

1. Read the requirements on the program's own page.
2. Fill out the application. Crisis Text Line says its application takes about 20 minutes. San Francisco Suicide Prevention asks you to apply at least 30 days before the first of the month a cohort starts.
3. Screening. Expect some of these: a phone screen, an interview, references, a background check. San Francisco Suicide Prevention asks for three references, and they cannot be family members or therapists (SF Suicide Prevention).
4. Training. Expect practice role plays and mentoring. Didi Hirsch, for example, uses live classes, one on one mentor sessions, role plays and self paced modules, including modules 988 requires.
5. First shifts with support. Most programs pair new volunteers with a mentor or supervisor at first.

Can I volunteer in Spanish or another language?

Bilingual volunteers are valued. Crisis Text Line works in English and has bilingual English and Spanish roles for people fluent in written Spanish (crisistextline.org). 988 itself offers Spanish by pressing 2.

If you speak Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog or another language, ask each program whether it needs volunteers in your language. Not every program lists language needs on its website.

What about background checks?

Crisis Text Line and The Trevor Project both require a background check. Crisis Text Line says it looks at each person individually against narrowly tailored criteria (crisistextline.org). San Francisco Suicide Prevention also runs one.

If you are worried about what a background check will ask for, such as a Social Security number, ask the program before you apply. Ask what information they collect, who sees it, and whether there are other options. You do not have to share your immigration status to ask a question.

Is this right for me?

Crisis work is meaningful. It is also heavy. Ask yourself:

• Can I stay calm when someone is very upset?
• Can I listen without fixing, judging or preaching? Volunteers support the caller's own reasons for living. They do not push their own beliefs.
• Can I keep a regular schedule for a year?
• Do I have my own support to talk about how the work affects me?
• Am I in a stable place right now? If you are going through your own crisis or a recent loss, it may be wiser to wait and take care of yourself first. Many volunteers have lived experience, and that can be a strength when you are ready.

Didi Hirsch says its volunteers include students, professionals, retirees and people with lived experience (Didi Hirsch).

How do volunteers take care of themselves?

• Use your debrief. Talk with your supervisor after hard calls.
• Keep it confidential, but do not carry it alone. Programs have ways to talk through calls safely.
• Build a routine to end a shift, like a walk, music, or a call with a friend.
• Watch for signs of burnout: trouble sleeping, dread before shifts, feeling numb or irritable.
• Take a break when you need one. Tell your program.
• Get help if a call stirs up your own pain. You can call or text 988 too.

What if a crisis line is not right for me?

There are many other ways to help:

• Learn to help people you know. Free trainings teach how to spot warning signs and talk to someone at risk. See Free suicide prevention training.
• Learn the five #BeThe1To steps: Ask, Be There, Help Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, Follow Up (#BeThe1To).
• Help your community talk safely about suicide. See How to talk about suicide safely.
• Volunteer in outreach or events at a crisis center. San Francisco Suicide Prevention lists outreach volunteering as well as hotline work (sfsuicide.org).

Are there programs in San Mateo or Santa Clara County?

San Mateo County: StarVista runs the county's 24/7 crisis line, (650) 579-0350. San Mateo County Health has listed StarVista crisis hotline volunteer information panels at 609 Price Street, Redwood City, with RSVP to the program (smchealth.org event page). The page did not show training details or a current date, so contact StarVista to ask whether it is recruiting.

Santa Clara County: the county's Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline takes volunteers. The county lists 80 hours of training and about 4 hours a week (County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health). To apply, use the email on that page. The page does not say whether it is recruiting now or what age it requires, so ask when you write. Remote programs above are open to Santa Clara County residents too.

Questions people ask

Do I need a counseling degree? No. Programs train you. Some students use crisis line work for practicum credit; The Trevor Project has a separate path for that.

Is it paid? No. The programs on this page are volunteer roles.

Can teens volunteer? The programs above that list an age require 18 or older (22 for San Francisco Suicide Prevention). Didi Hirsch runs Teen Line, where teen and adult volunteers work together (Didi Hirsch). Check its page for current openings and age rules.

How long until I take real calls? It depends on the program. Crisis Text Line training takes about 15 hours. Didi Hirsch takes 6 weeks, then a 3 month apprenticeship. The Trevor Project takes about 8 weeks.

What if I cannot commit to a year? Crisis Text Line asks for 200 hours with shifts you choose. That may fit a busy schedule better.

Where can I learn more?

Contact them to confirm openings, requirements and languages. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of a volunteer spot.

• Crisis Text Line (U.S., remote): crisistextline.org/volunteer, questions to admissions@crisistextline.org
• Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center (Los Angeles and remote): interest list on its volunteer page, or (424) 362-2920
• San Francisco Suicide Prevention (San Francisco, in person): sfsuicide.org/hotline-volunteering
• The Trevor Project (U.S., remote): thetrevorproject.org/volunteer
• Santa Clara County Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline (in Santa Clara County): county volunteer page
• StarVista (San Mateo County): ask about crisis hotline volunteering through the county event page above