Need Mental Health Help But You Aren’t In Crisis? Try A ‘Warmline’

You may have heard of the suicide hotline, which was recently changed to 988. If you are in pain, thinking about harming yourself or experiencing any mental health crisis, you can use the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For some people, this resource can be very helpful and even life-saving.

But what about when you just need someone to talk to? You may not feel you need a hotline. However, you are still faced with a difficult situation that you want to talk about.

While suicide hotlines are always available, we also need to promote another option: the hotline. It’s free, and they’re staffed by colleagues who are trained to understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health.

A 2011 study found that hotline callers had less need for crisis services and felt less isolated after using the resource. Clearly, hotlines aren’t a bad idea—and their positive effects may be more profound than you first realize.

Here’s how they can help and how you can take advantage of them yourself:

They Make Mental Health Care More Accessible

There is no doubt that these barriers prevent many people from accessing mental health treatment. For example, at least 39% of people do not receive services because of cost. Additionally, access to care is more difficult for people of color.

While this issue still needs to be addressed, this is where the hotline can help. They are important because access to mental health care is so low in this country, and most people have no one to turn to when they have a problem to solve or need support. Hotline operators are also a more neutral party than loved ones (and people you don’t have to meet in person).

Most hotlines are available 24/7, so if your therapy appointment isn’t until next week and your friends and family are asleep, you have options. This allows people to feel validated for their experience in the moment, without having to wait.

They Address Challenges Early On

The hotline is also preventive. Hotlines are important because they can provide another layer of help before people need to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Since 988 may bring the police to your home (which may feel particularly unsafe for people of color and those who have had negative experiences with authority figures), this factor cannot be ignored.

At this point, a 2021 survey showed that hotlines prefer to contact area crisis services rather than calling 911 if needed, and some hotlines even have policies against calling 911. Add to this the fact that emergency room and hospital stays are prohibitively expensive—think $1,000 a day, give or take—and proactive care is critical. (This is not to say that sometimes these resources are not needed or that financial problems cannot be solved, but just to validate how stressful the situation can be.)

They Increase Overall Well-Being

Peer support is also key to preventing mental health symptoms from worsening. Research shows that peer recovery support can increase empowerment and hope, enhance social functioning, reduce hospitalizations, reduce self-stigma, and more.

So How Do Mental Health Warmlines Work?

Before you call the hotline, you may want to know what to expect.

First, remember that hotline staff are trained. All hotline specialists are certified experts and are additionally trained in the details of the hotline to handle all calls effectively and efficiently with unconditional high regard for each caller.

So what exactly does a call or text conversation look like? Usually when you call a hotline, the operator will listen for a while and then maybe offer words of comfort. In stressful moments, or when faced with extreme problems that require counseling or advice, hotlines can provide callers with the opportunity to be heard.

Again, it’s important to note that these operators are not mental health professionals but can make connections between people, often sharing their own experiences with callers to increase connection.

Some hotlines may have a time limit (such as 20 minutes or one hour) and you will be notified.Others allow you to talk as much as you want.

Of course, not every phone call is going to make you feel better, it’s just something to be aware of when making the calls. Calling a hotline or hotline does not guarantee that someone will feel better or that their problem has been solved. That’s why it’s also important to have a variety of tools in your care toolbox.

These tools might include watching your favorite comedy, playing with your pet, texting a trusted friend, or doing your favorite deep breathing exercise. Basically, anything that makes you feel better will do.

If you’re nervous, that’s okay.Not knowing who you’ll be talking to, or whether they’ll be a good listener, can cause anxiety.

If the conversation doesn’t go well, you can always use a pseudonym or hang up.

Is It Time For You To Call A Warmline Or Hotline?

Not sure if you should call a hotline or hotline number? A hotline is best if you are suicidal or facing an urgent crisis, whereas a stressful day at work, for example, might be a better time to call.

Also, consider what you need.

Unlike suicide hotlines, where the number is 988 no matter where you are, hotline numbers depend on your location. Warmline.org has a directory that lists phone numbers in different states. (If your state doesn’t have a hotline, try a hotline in another location, such as Wings Across Alabama.) It may be helpful to continue adding the hotline number to your contacts.

Calling someone you don’t know can be scary, but these experts take on this role because they understand it and want to help people like you. No matter who you are or how you feel, you deserve help – and it’s available.