Crisis Text Services in Santa Clara County

Crisis services are now available via text messaging in Santa Clara County.  

About half of adults will experience a mental health challenge over the course of their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, emotionally or mentally distressed residents in Santa Clara County have access to free, text-based, confidential assistance from trained Crisis Text Line counselors by texting “RENEW” to 741741. The support is free, accessible 24/7, and confidential. Learn more at www.sccbhsd.org/suicideprevention

To date, Crisis Text Line, a national organization, has answered more than 84 million messages. The organization has more than 4,500 active Crisis Counselors with strict safeguards and protocols to provide care, safety, and confidentiality for each user. “The ability to offer text-based support to people in need adds a new dimension to our outreach services, and is an especially important tool to offer to young people in Santa Clara County,” said Toni Tullys, Director of the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department, adding, “It’s important to make access to counseling easy and approachable, and text-based support does both.”

The vast majority of Crisis Text Line users are under age 25; partnering with Crisis Text Line is an important part of our work to address the issue of youth suicides – including college-age youth.” The County’s Behavioral Health Services Department already offers a 24/7, free, confidential Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 1 (855) 278-4204​​, mental health services information and referrals at 1 (800) 704-0900, and substance abuse services information and referrals at 1 (800) 488-9919.