About
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential mental health support via text message, delivering crisis intervention and prevention when it is needed most. Anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico can text HOME to 741741 to be connected with a live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor; support is also available by web chat and WhatsApp, in both English and Spanish (text HOLA to 741741). Founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York, the organization describes itself as a tech-forward not-for-profit that pairs trained volunteer Crisis Counselors with data and technology to reach people in crisis quickly.
Mission
Crisis Text Line frames its mission as working "at the intersection of empathy and innovation" to promote mental well-being for people wherever they are, with a vision of "an empathetic world where no one feels alone." Counselors use empathy and active listening to help texters identify their own strengths and coping strategies in moments of crisis.
What they do
- Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support by text (741741), web chat, and WhatsApp across the United States and Puerto Rico
- Service in English and Spanish
- Training of volunteer Crisis Counselors who staff the service
- Use of data and technology to prioritize the highest-risk conversations, with aggregate insights shared publicly through Crisis Trends
History
The idea for Crisis Text Line emerged in 2011, when founder Nancy Lublin received a text message from an abuse victim while leading another nonprofit. The service launched in August 2013, and within four months it was receiving texts from nearly every U.S. area code. In its first eight years, the organization grew into what it describes as the nation's largest text-based crisis-intervention service, exchanging more than 4 million text conversations and training over 39,000 volunteer crisis counselors. Affiliated services operate internationally through partner organizations: Mental Health Innovations runs Shout (text 85258) in the United Kingdom, Kids Help Phone runs the Canadian service (text CONNECT to 686868), and spunout runs the Text About It service in Ireland (text HOME to 50808).
Financials
Per its IRS Form 990 as published by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Crisis Text Line Inc (EIN 46-5039599) reported total revenue of 32.3 million dollars, total functional expenses of 35.6 million dollars, and total assets of 18.0 million dollars for the fiscal year ending December 2023. The organization has been recognized as tax-exempt since 2014.
Governance
Crisis Text Line is led by Chief Executive Officer Dena Trujillo. The executive team also includes Chief Health Officer Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Impact Officer Margaret Meagher, Chief Financial Officer Danielle Adest, Chief Technology Officer Matthew Vanderzee, and Chief Operating Officer Rupesh Shah.