Helping people cope with coronavirus related concerns, the found that the top three issues for people now involve anxiety, depression and relationships.
鈥淭here鈥檚 science behind what we do, and so we can see what works in taking people from a hot moment to a cool calm,鈥� Crisis Text Line co-founder and CEO Nancy Lublin said.
Lublin said data show people are feeling overwhelmed and anxious because they feel the pandemic is an unpredictable, all-encompassing looming thing.
They might be worrying, for example, about what鈥檚 going to happen with their careers, a relationship鈥檚 future or what will happen when school starts in the fall.
鈥淎nd, we鈥檝e noticed that using words like today and tomorrow and this weekend 鈥� shorter time bursts鈥� helps, Lublin said.
“Instead, saying: 鈥榃hat are you going to do tonight to stay strong? What鈥檚 your plan tomorrow for food?鈥� Shorter time horizons give people a sense of control and calm and strength.”
Another suggestion from Lublin is to reconnect with people from your past, such as a childhood friend who moved away or with people you might not see frequently, such as cousins you typically see only at Thanksgiving.
Lublin said the word “reconnect” is showing up a lot, copresenting with the words “family” and “friends.”
鈥淩econnecting is not creepy right now; it鈥檚 actually lovely. It鈥檚 a chance to bond, to think back on happier times and reflect and celebrate and find joy in each other, 鈥� Lublin said.
鈥淩econnecting is a wonderful source of strength right now.”
Another source of comfort and strength for people now is pets. Lublin said dogs get mentioned twice as frequently as cats.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strong dog moment,鈥� Lublin said. 鈥淚 think because you also get outside and walk your dog, your dog is playful whereas I think a lot of cats are looking at their humans and saying, 鈥榃hat are you doing in my house?鈥欌�� Lublin mused.
If you鈥檙e worried about friends or family members who may seem despondent or appear to be struggling, Lublin recommends discussing it with them beginning with an expression of care such as, 鈥淚 really care about you, or your smile really lights me up, or you鈥檙e my favorite person.鈥�
And then, emphasizing that it鈥檚 never harmful or suggestive to ask someone, Lublin recommends you say, 鈥淎re you thinking dark thoughts? How are you feeling on a scale of one to five?鈥�
鈥淪aying: How you doing? That鈥檚 a hard question. I don鈥檛 even know where to begin with that one. But, saying how are you feeling on a scale of one to five 鈥� I can pick a number,鈥� Lublin said.
How do you know when you might need to reach out for help?
Lublin said no issue is too small. Perhaps you鈥檙e feeling alone, or angry, or frustrated or don鈥檛 know what to do.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 a crisis to you, it鈥檚 a crisis to us,鈥� Lublin said, adding that you should not hesitate to reach out.
鈥淩eaching out to us, you鈥檙e not only getting help for yourself 鈥� you鈥檙e doing your part to reduce stigma and normalize mental health,鈥� Lublin noted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 heroic, reaching out.鈥�
The Crisis Text Line is always looking for volunteers to keep it going.
“We鈥檙e looking for what we鈥檝e nicknamed ’empathy MVPs,'” Lublin said.
, you can apply online, need to be older than 18 years old, go through a background check and need to take and pass 30 hours of training 鈥� about 33% of applicants fail.
鈥淚f you pass, you can be a crisis counselor any time, any place. It鈥檚 almost like being a Lyft or Uber driver 鈥� you do it when you鈥檙e available, wherever you are,鈥� Lublin said.
But, “It鈥檚 much more difficult than being a Lyft or Uber driver.鈥�
For聽free anonymous help, text the word CRISIS to 741-741.
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