Sarasota school officials push for students to use 'Crisis Text Line' service
SARASOTA (FOX 13) - Support and mental health services are now just a text away for students in Sarasota County.
School District officials have launched a Crisis Text Line campaign to get students connected to trained counselors that will be available to them 24/7, and answer to texts. They said all texts will remain confidential.
The Crisis Text Line was created in 2013, and has processed more than 60 million messages to date. Students can text “HERE4U” to 741-741 to start.
As a part of the campaign, school administrators will post fliers around school buildings in areas with high visibility so that students will have the number if they need it, or are too uncomfortable to ask for it.
If you know someone who is not a Sarasota student and could benefit from the Crisis Text Line, they can text the word “HELLO” or “START” to 741-741 and they will be connected to a counselor.