More FAQs

When you text 38255, you’re connected with Colorado Crisis Services, Colorado’s first statewide resource for mental health, substance use or emotional crisis help, information and referrals. CCS came out of an initiative from Gov. John Hickenlooper, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services, to strengthen Colorado’s mental health system.

No script or algorithm out there could address all of the concerns, fears and feelings of text line users. Just as there is no “standard” crisis, there is no “standard” approach to helping someone through a crisis. It’s a collaborative effort, with the counselor responding to your worries, thoughts and ideas in real time.

Text-line crisis counselors are trained professionals with at least master’s-level degrees in mental health. They have worked as phone counselors for no fewer than three months, and have received special training to offer text support on a variety of topics. Most are in their 20s or 30s.

If you haven’t yet watched our short video interview with a counselor, we urge you to do so here.

Typically, you’ll hear from a counselor within 2 to 3 minutes. If lines are especially busy for some reason and we can’t immediately support you through text, you will still receive an immediate response explaining that you may either speak to a phone counselor immediately, or wait until a text counselor becomes available.

You can always chat with us or give us a call at 1-844-493-8255. Reach us on chat here.

Currently, our text counselors speak only English. If you text in, say, Spanish, you will receive a Spanish-language message suggesting that you call 1-844-493-8255; say the word “Spanish”; and get connected to an interpreter for a phone counseling session.

Short answer: Yes, it is.

Longer answer: We try to collect date of birth and ZIP code data to figure out where our services are having an impact, and on what demographic. This information helps us refine our outreach and services; in short, it helps us help other teens. But you aren’t required to provide your ZIP and date of birth if you don’t want to.

As for your name, counselors tend to ask for names simply because it’s nice to know a name when having a personal conversation. (Also, your counselor will be sharing his or her name with you.) However, giving your first name isn’t required, either.

There is no charge for using the text support line, so we won’t ask you about insurance. (Keep in mind that if your phone service plan doesn’t include unlimited text, you could be charged per your provider agreement.)

There are similarities, especially in that the text line is available 24/7. But you don’t have to feel suicidal to use the text line. It’s for anyone facing a situation that, in the moment, feels like too much to handle.

The ONLY time we reach out to parents or anyone else is if we’re concerned for your immediate safety, or the safety of someone else. Having thoughts of suicide or self-harm does not, by itself, warrant our getting a parent, first responder or anyone else involved. But if you indicate an immediate safety concern and are unable to work with the counselor to stay safe — for instance, if you have a weapon and are not willing to put it away — and we believe that involving someone else will keep you safe, we will take this step. This is absolutely a last resort and not at all our goal or hope for the interaction. YOU are our first priority, and keeping our conversation confidential is extremely important to us.

At the end of a conversation, we’ll go over next steps and an overall plan, in order to ensure you feel content and safe as you take on the rest of your day or night.

If it’s appropriate, before your exchange ends the counselor will offer you the chance to schedule a follow-up text. This is completely your choice. It involves a counselor texting you later, at your desired day and time, to see how you’ve been doing since our last conversation.

At the very end of your session, you’ll also get one question that asks you to rate the “helpfulness” of your text conversation. This feedback really helps us analyze how we’re doing, and where we can improve.

You can text “TALK” to 38255 whenever you need support or feel that you’re in crisis. You may also come to a walk-in centers if you’re experiencing a mental health, substance use or emotional issue. El Paso County is home to two centers: AspenPointe at 115 S. Parkside Drive, and AspenPointe Woodmen at 6071 E. Woodmen Road, #135 (in the North Care Building of St. Francis Medical Center).

Because of work schedules and unpredictable demand, we can’t guarantee that you will reach the same counselor when you text the next time. However, the counselor you reach will have access to notes from any previous conversations, so you don’t have to explain your entire situation again if you don’t want to.

Our counselors do not report a texter’s immigration status to law enforcement. If stress, anxiety or fear related to immigration status is a reason for your text, a counselor will work through those feelings with you, as with any other topic. If your text is NOT related to immigration status, it is unlikely to come up at all.

If a counselor determines that you or someone you know is in immediate danger, it is possible that he or she might request assistance from law enforcement. But even in that scenario, immigration status should not be an issue, according to these statements provided to us by local law enforcement.

From the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office: “It is the policy of our Office to not question immigration status of anyone requesting our service. This issue would only come up after a legal arrest for state and local criminal and traffic violations in which the person can not provide proof of identity.”

From the Colorado Springs Police Department: “CSPD officers do not check immigration status of individuals with whom they routinely come in contact. To do so would negatively impact the willingness of individuals to cooperate with CSPD. There is no constitutional or statutory requirement for individuals to provide proof of immigration status when contacted by the police, therefore it would be inappropriate for our officers to make such inquiries.

“CSPD will comply with the U.S. Constitution and all binding statutory and case law. Immigration Law is a federal responsibility, outside of our responsibility and mission. This does not mean we will provide sanctuary to those violating immigration law. We will continue to comply with requirements of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including working with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to share information on national origin of arrestees who are jailed. We support the efforts of ICE to arrest, detain and deport undocumented individuals who have committed felony crimes.”