How To Use This Toolkit

Help us spread the word about Crisis Text Line! The New York State Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center (OMH’s SPCNY) wants to make it easy to share information about Crisis Tet Line and suicide prevention this Mental Health Month. Use these materials in the classroom, hallways, and at school events.

Learn:

• What is Crisis Text Line
• How Crisis Text Line can help
• When to contact Crisis Text Line
• …and more!

Download the materials that you find most useful and check back regularly for additional content.

How To Talk About Crisis Text Line

Conversation Starters

Here are some of the ways you can begin the conversation about Crisis Text Line with people you know:

Educating Others:

• “Did you know that Crisis Text Line is a text-based crisis support resource that you can reach out to if you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed?”
• “You can talk to a trained crisis counselor when you text Got5 to 741-741.”
• “Have you heard about Crisis Text Line?”

Supporting Others:

• “I’ve heard that people who text Crisis Text Line feel really supported.”
• “I feel like you might be struggling and want you to know that Crisis Text Line has someone there to listen and support you.”

If you’re worried about someone and want to check in, the “Just Checking In Tip Sheet” can help you have a supportive conversation.

Social Media 

Use these examples to share information about Crisis Text Line on your social media pages:

Option 1: 

Crisis Text Line is here for you whenever you need someone to listen and help you get to a safe place during a tough moment. Thousands of New Yorkers have reached out to Crisis Text Line – it’s free, anonymous, available 24/7 and most importantly – it’s for everyone. Text Got5 to 741-741 to reach a trained crisis counselor who will be there and support you.

Option 2: 

During Mental Health Month, it’s important to remember that Crisis Text Line is here for you if you need someone to listen. Text Got5 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor who is always ready to support you and help you get to a calm and safe headspace during a difficult moment.

Option 3:

Remind yourself and others that Crisis Text Line is here for you if you ever need someone to listen and help you get through a tough moment. Thousands of New Yorkers have reached out to Crisis Text Line in recent years. It’s free, anonymous, available 24/7 and most importantly – it’s for everyone. Text Got5 to 741-741 to reach a trained crisis counselor who will be there to support you.

How To Help Spread The Word

What School Administrators Can Do:

Flyers – In the school counselor, principal, nurse and coaches offices. Posted in every classroom.

Webpage – Update your school’s counseling or student wellness webpage to include “Text Got5 to 741-741.”

Student IDs – Advertise this resource on the back of student IDs.

Email Signatures – Include “Text got5 to 741-741 for free crisis counseling” in all staff email signatures.

Social Media – Share the resource regularly across all social media profiles.

Bathrooms – Post stickers with resource in every bathroom stall.

Assemblies – At an upcoming student assembly or PTSA night, have people take out their phones and enter 741-741 in their contacts.

Online Portals – Include the resource in all remote learning resources and online student portals (Google Classroom, Canvas, Zoom, Schoology, etc.).

Share – Spread the word by sharing this toolkit with the PTA at your school so they can spread awareness of the number as a resource.

What Teachers Can Do:

Syllabi & Assignments – Include the resource in all syllabi and assignments.

Email Signature – Include the resource in your email signature.

Online Learning Sessions – Add a reminder of the resource to all online learning sessions (in Zoom chats, Google hangouts, etc.).

Communications – Add the resource to all class-wide communications.

Phones – Encourage students to save “text got5 to 741-741” in their phones if they ever need it.

Share – Spread the word by sharing this toolkit in social media groups and professional circles for teachers.

What Students Can Do:

Chalk Campaign – Write the number on sidewalks, in the parking lot, and on whiteboards in classrooms.

Campus Clubs & Publications – Activate student groups to spread the word. Write an article about Crisis Text Line and the data at crisistrends.org in the school newspaper. Create a recurring ad in the newspaper promoting the resource.

Announcements – Include “text Got5 to 741-741” or Crisis Text Line public awareness videos in school announcements.

Social Media – Post on social media platforms so that your friends know where to turn in crisis: “Text Got5 to 741-741.”

What Parents Can Do:

Your Community – Be an advocate at your kid’s school. Share this toolkit with school leaders. Table at farmers markets and community events.

Share 741-741 With Your Kids – Tell them about it. Maybe even just subtly put a flyer on the refrigerator.

Other Parents – Email friends. Post on Facebook. Spread the word to other parents.

New York's Crisis Text Line Marketing & Suicide Prevention Educational Materials

Use these materials to spread the word about suicide prevention at your school or in your community. You can share these resources digitally or by printing them out.

Infographics:

Print these infographics and share them at your school. You can also share these resources digitally. 

• Spotlight On Suicide 
• Language Matters: Spotlight On Suicide
• How To Help Someone Experiencing Emotional Distress
• Know The F.A.C.T.S.: Recognizing The Warning Signs Of Suicide 

Brochures:

Print these brochures and share them at your school. You can also share these resources digitally. 

• What Every Teacher Needs To Know: Recognizing Suicide Risk In Students
• What Every Parent & Guardian Needs To Know: Recognizing Suicide Risk In Your Child 
• What Every Student Needs To Know: The Warning Signs Of Suicide Risk 
• Suicide Prevention In The Classroom
• Make Your Home Suicide-Safer: Prevent Suicide Through Lethal Means Safety 

Posters:

Print and hang these posters throughout your school. The recommended print size for these posters is 11×17. 

• Crisis Text Line – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Version 2
• Crisis Text Line – Version 3
• Crisis Text Line – Version 4
• Tips On Being A Supportive LGBTQ+ Ally

Bookmarks

Print and share these bookmarks at the school library or in the classroom.

• Crisis Text Line Bookmark

Social Media Graphics

• Crisis Text Line – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Version 2 
• Crisis Text Line – Version 3
• Crisis Text Line – Version 4

Stickers & Magnets

Help spread suicide prevention awareness by ordering stickers and magnets, and sharing them with students, guardians, and teachers. The recommended size for these stickers and magnets are 3×3.  

• Crisis Text Line 
• 988, Trevor Project & Crisis Text Line
• Inspirational Stickers

Inspirational Cards

Help spread suicide prevention awareness by ordering inspirational cards, and sharing them with students, guardians, and teachers. 

• Inspirational Cards 

Videos 

Share these videos on social media, in emails, during school announcements, and on televisions in high-traffic areas around school.  

• Crisis Text Line – It’s For Everyone (English version)
• Crisis Text Line – It’s For Everyone (Spanish version)
• Crisis Text Line – School Stress – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – School Stress – Version 2
• Crisis Text Line – School Stress – Version 3
• Crisis Text Line – Growing Up – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Growing Up – Version 2
• Crisis Text Line – Growing Up – Version 3
• Crisis Text Line – Reminder – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Reminder – Version 2
• Crisis Text Line – Reminder – Version 3
• Crisis Text Line – Balance – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Balance – Version 2
• Crisis Text Line – Balance – Version 3 
• Crisis Text Line – Let Your Text Do The Talking – Version 1
• Crisis Text Line – Let Your Text Do The Talking – Version 2