GRAND RAPIDS, MI – West Michigan residents can now text a free, confidential hotline if they are in experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate support or intervention.
The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s “be nice.” program has launched a new mental health crisis text line in partnership with nonprofit organization Crisis Text Line, the foundation announced in a April 10 news release.
Texting “nice” to 741741 will connect users to a trained volunteer crisis counselor who can provide high-quality, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention. The services are free, anonymous and available 24/7, the release said.
The new hotline is part of an effort to increase mental health intervention services during the spring months, when suicide rates typically rise, according to the release. Suicide rates increase in April, May and June, the release said.
“Spring can be a difficult time for those struggling with their mental health,” the release said. “It’s important we are vigilant and supportive when we notice someone showing concerning changes.”
According to the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, a change in someone’s behavior, physical appearance, or psyche that lasts more than two weeks could be a sign of a developing mental health concern. There is a list of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression on the foundation’s website.
The Mental Health Foundation’s “be nice.” program is “an upstream mental health and suicide prevention program” with a four-step action plan. The plan encourages people to challenge themselves and others to seek appropriate professional help when they notice mental health changes or concerns. “Nice” stands for notice, invite, challenge, and empower, according to the website.
The foundation encourages people to think of the crisis text line as “a friend who is there whenever they need them,” the release said. Talking it out is a great way to put a situation into perspective and help cope with negative feelings or thoughts.
“Only a small percentage of individuals who text the line is experiencing a life-threatening crisis,” the release said. “Most users are looking for someone to help talk them through a negative experience or current problem they’re facing.”
While the text hotline is anonymous, the Mental Health Foundation will be using data from the hotline to gain insight on what kinds of issues people are dealing with. The keyword “nice” will be used by the organization to track the topics and concerns that users are facing, the release said.
“These insights will help keep our education materials relevant,” the release said. “It’s our goal to help as many individuals as possible with our mental health action plan, ‘be nice.,’ and a part of how we do this is by staying up on current trends, stressors, and issues our communities are experiencing.”
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