Crisis Hotlines Need Landline Texting More Than Ever in 2020

Landline Texting is often discussed in the context of traditional business needs- such as its potential to generate and engage leads, market to a target audience and convert those efforts to sales. However, landline texting also makes for an invaluable tool for nonprofit organizations and, especially, crisis hotlines.

And as 2020 goes on, the need for a comprehensive crisis hotline strategy is becoming more and more apparent. In fact, a recent article by NPR states, “Across the board, hotlines of all kinds are reporting increases in volume. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration saw a fivefold increase at its National Helpline between the beginning and end of March. The Crisis Text Line says its volumes are up 40% in the pandemic, to about 100,000 conversations a month.”

If your crisis hotline has yet to reach a solution on how to better assist people in 2020, landline texting may be the answer you have been looking for. Read on to find out all the ways that landline texting can help your organization ease the pain of those in need.

Crisis Hotlines Need Landline Texting More Than Ever in 2020

Landline texting will not interfere with regular voice service.

Before we talk about the specific needs of crisis hotlines, it is important to understand the ins-and-outs of landline texting.

With a business texting service, your organization can text-enable all existing landlines, toll-free or VoIP business phone numbers without the purchase of any additional hardware or equipment. All you will need is your current phone number, a subscription to a business texting service and a mobile or web browser to begin communicating via text.

More importantly for hotlines or call centers, landline texting will not interfere with your existing voice service. Although phone calls and texts are sent to your organization’s landline number, their paths are a little different. Phone calls are made possible through your telephone provider; texts, on the other hand, will be arriving via the internet. 

With landline texting, your crisis hotline will be able to provide one more accessible option to people in need without any interruption to your current voice call operations.

Keep records of conversations within the texting platform.

With a landline texting platform, your crisis hotline will now have the ability to store, manage and access a record of conversations. 

Oftentimes, when someone contacts a crisis hotline more than once, they speak to a different counselor each time. When it comes to the overburdened crisis hotlines of 2020, having a comprehensive record could come in handy for counselors to have a bit of context when being contacted by a repeat texter. It can also help them to better identify the people who can be assisted via the hotline and those who may need their help in seeking out additional resources.

Keeping a record of these conversations can make all the difference down the line. With landline texting, it’s never been easier.

Two-way chat for immediate assistance.

Although many businesses utilize landline texting to send mass marketing messages to subscribers, many services also offer a two-way chat feature. 

With this feature, your crisis hotline will be able to access quick communication with people in need. One of the benefits of texting is its immediacy, and that will be crucial for many of the serious, life-threatening situations that crisis call centers deal with on a daily basis. 

The easy access, user-friendly platform will put your staff and volunteers one finger click away from a one-on-one conversation with the people who need your support the most.

Landline texting will make hotlines more accessible to a younger demographic.

Depression and anxiety disorders, conditions that can contribute to suicidal thoughts or behaviors, have been steadily increasing in recent years. According to Time.com, “Major depression among teens, especially girls, has jumped 37% in the past decade.” Of course, with the added stress of 2020, this issue has only been exacerbated. 

It is well known that teens dominate the world of texting, so why not give them an emergency support solution on the platform in which they feel the most comfortable? With the added privacy of texting (as opposed to speaking aloud on the phone), teenagers can feel safe reaching out for help even in times when they may not feel safe in their own homes.

It is clear that teenagers need more help and resources in 2020 than ever before, and landline texting can help your hotline provide just that.

Speaking of privacy…

Teens are not the only ones who will benefit from this added layer of privacy; anyone who opts to text a crisis hotline can feel safe reaching out with the knowledge that no one will overhear their conversation.

According to Nancy Lublin, CEO and co-founder of the Crisis Text Line, texting is an ideal medium- especially during the pandemic- because “you don’t have to find a quiet space where no one else can hear you.”

The privacy aspect offered by a texting solution can be especially beneficial to victims of domestic abuse. According to the UN, cases of domestic abuse during the pandemic have risen by 20%. Despite the rise in domestic abuse, some regions experienced a more than 50% drop in calls to crisis hotline centers.

It is clear that in the midst of lockdowns and global restrictions, victims of domestic abuse are not only less safe in general but less safe to reach out for help. With everyone at home, these victims have not been afforded the privacy or security to reach out to crisis hotlines without fear of being discovered by their abuser.

With landline texting, domestic-violence and other crisis hotlines can provide a quiet, private method for victims to reach out for help. And that has the potential to save lives.

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With the popularity and accessibility of texting and the increasing need for support across the world, landline texting is no longer an option for crisis hotlines and call centers. It is a necessity. 

Landline texting will give your hotline the ability to provide organized, private and immediate assistance via the communication method that each person prefers, be it voice calls or text messaging. With our affordable and user-friendly platform, you can continue providing comprehensive support to more people than ever! If you are ready to implement landline texting for your crisis hotline, start your 14-day free trial today!