Ep 46: The Crisis Text Line with Dr. Shairi Turner

Rachel speaks with Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit that provides free, 24/7 text-based mental health support and crisis intervention through a community of trained volunteer counselors. In 2025, Crisis Text Line had more conversations than any year since its founding — over 1.5 million — and the data from those conversations tells a story that every clinician and practice owner needs to hear.   Dr. Turner walks Rachel through how Crisis Text Line actually works: what happens from the moment someone texts HOME to 741741, how volunteer counselors are trained and supervised, and how the organization handles the rare cases — just one percent — where a conversation cannot be de-escalated. She also shares the founding story of Crisis Text Line, born from a moment when a young person reached out for help through a volunteer platform with nowhere else to turn. The conversation covers what the 2025 data reveals about who is reaching out — rural communities, young people, and boys under 14 reporting suicidal thoughts at striking rates — and ends with a direct call to action for clinicians: ask young men and boys how they are doing, and ask clearly.   If you or someone you know needs support, text HOME to 741741 to connect with a live volunteer Crisis Counselor.   Resources Mentioned:   Articles Referenced: 988 Mental Health Help Lifeline Helps Five Million in First Year — NPR (July 2023): https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/15/1187862144/988-mental-health-crisis-line-gets-5-million-calls-texts-and-chats-in-first-year Why Depression Goes Undetected in Teen Boys — NBC News (June 2024): https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/depression-anxiety-teen-boys-diagnosis-undetected-rcna141649 Annual Trends 2025 — Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/annual-trends/ Additional resource - Crisis Text line Terms and Conditions: https://www.crisistextline.org/terms-of-service/   Connect with Dr. Shairi Turner: Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org Text HOME to 741741   Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution   Music by Zach Harrison