How Depression Crisis Hotlines can Help you

Now more than ever people are in crisis and turning to crisis helplines to get help. There are crisis helplines that address, just about every situation imaginable. Crisis hotlines are the first line of defense for those who feel they have nowhere else to turn. At the end of this article, I have listed hotline phone numbers you can call for immediate help!

A crisis hotline or helpline are manned by trained or paid staff, that offer assistance, counseling and outside resources for continued help after the call ends. Help is given to each call regardless of race, creed or age or sexual orientation.

Many people will call a hotline, when they fell they can not talk to anyone else. There is something about an anonymous voice, that does not know you and will not judge you.

One of the most serious cases a counselor will it is a threatened suicide. Some years back when I worked for a hotline, I had to take calls for people who were experiencing mental challenges, family problems, loneliness, death of a spouse and those threatening suicides. Wisdom is so important when counseling on a hotline.

You can not minimize a persons problems, not matter how insignificant they may appear. Empathy is an important part of reaching out to callers. When the feel that you care, they will open up to you. Many I have spoken to, felt that life was meaningless and saw no hope of rescue.

This hub is a view from the crisis counselor's side of the phone. At the bottom you will find a list of hotline phone numbers that might assist you.

When someone calls a crisis hotline for help, you need to assess the situation and get all the facts in order to help someone. Let them talk, after all that is why they called. Let them get everything off their chest before you respond. Wait until there is a significant period of silence before you speak.

Hopefully, through their conversation, you will discover, some of the main issues that need to be addressed, such as mental illness, loosing a home, etc. Open ended questions, will help you determine what type of help the person needs.

I can not stress how important it is to be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. You will find some people will call just to talk. Be a good listener.

When speaking to a caller, it is important to be able to connect with the caller on some level. You do not have to have experienced what they call has experience to connect with them. There is where you dig in deep and allow empathy to take place. You probable know someone in your past or present that has had the similar problems, allow that same compassion transfer to the caller.

Let them know that you heard what they are saying and are concerned about them. It is our humanity that gives us the ability to feel the pain of others. Let them know you are human, and not an indifferent voice on the other end of the line.

Many people who call a crisis hotline are emotional. Allow people to express their feelings, without interrupting them. Expressing anger, crying or cursing, is a way the person is releasing pent-up emotions that have been held in a long time. Don't tell them to calm down or don't cry. Let the situation run its course until the person naturally calms down.

This behavior can be therapeutic. Once this negative energy is spent, they may be ready to talk to you calmly. When you are able to talk, ask leading questions, that will help bring out crucial information.

To be sure that you understand what is troubling, mirror or repeat back what the person has said and ask them is what you are saying correct. Now you can address they concerns without further frustrating the caller with misinformation.

It is important to give people hope. No one can survive without hope! Hope is the possibility of things changing and seeing a bright new day.

This is where you can extend to those who have call the resource you have available to help their situation. If you cannot help them, make sure to refer them to someone who can.

You should familiarize yourself with the list of referrals you have been given and have them where can be easily found.

If the caller is a person of faith, offer to pray for them. Prayer can be a very powerful way of helping a hopeless person connect with someone greater than themselves. This is also a way of offering hope. It does not matter if you are not a religious, simple words of prayer can help someone who is. At this point you prayer is not based on your faith, but theirs.

Offer numbers where they can get religious counseling or help them connect with help, such as a visit from clergy of their faith.

When someone calls and tells you, they are going to kill themselves, take them very seriously. If the caller is a frequent caller, treat the threat as if it were the first time. Ask questions that will determine, if the person has a plan of action, like a gun, pills or a rope.

If you have a strong indication that the person is serious about killing themselves, try to keep them on the line, while you or someone else can call 911, to dispatch a police officer to their home. Do not feel bad for calling the authorities, you will be saving a life.

Helping people is an excellent way to give back to your community. They are always looking for volunteers to help take calls. If you have ever been interested in becoming a phone volunteer, I encourage you to pursue it. Helping other can be a very rewarding experience!

Choose the organization you are most passionate about and call to find out if they need part-time volunteers. They will train you completely on how to handle the situations you will encounter and provide you with a list of helpful resources to give callers. Good luck!

• Domestic Violence Hotline and Resources: 1-800-799-7233 1-800-787-3224 (TDD)

• Veteran's in Crisis: 1-800-273-82855

• Alcohol and Drug Helpline: 1-800-821-4357

• Child Abuse National Hotline: 1-800-252-2873

• Child Abuse: To report call: 1-800-4-A-CHILD

• Children in immediate risk or danger: 1-800-THE-LOST

• Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-8966

• SAFE (Self-Abuse Finally Ends): 1-800-DONT-CUT, 1-800-366-8288

• Youth Crisis Hotline: Referrals for runaways or youth in crisis: 1-800-448-4663

• Child-Support Enforcement Hotline: 877-696-6775

• Mortgage Payment Assistance: 800-750-8956

• Debt Relief Hotline: 800- 291-1042

• Upper Room Prayer Hotline: 1-800-251-2468