Serving As a Hotline Crisis Counselor

Recently I started a half-time position as a crisis counselor with Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska. My responsibilities are to respond to callers who dial the 988 crisis hotline. I work to deescalate suicide ideation, offer appropriate referrals, and provide an empathetic ear. As a new crisis counselor I recognize that I need to be ready to offer appropriate resources to meet a variety of callers' needs. I have been impressed with the amount of resources that are available to individuals who live in larger urban areas. And I have been just as surprised to discover that many people living in rural areas have very few mental health and support services available to them.

Fortunately, the Internet provides people across the country with access to a variety of databases of mental health providers across the country. (For example, here is a listing site by Trilogy Integrated Resources.) A directed web search can reveal curated, practical resources on a variety of mental health and wellness topics. One of my favorite websites in this information support area is called Your Life Your Voice. Unsurprisingly, its website URL is www.yourlifeyourvoice.org. Created by Boys Town, this resource is geared towards teens and young adults, but it offers insights that are valuable to all ages. Important issues such as dealing with stress, family conflict, and anxiety are presented in clear and encouraging ways.


web page screen capture from www.yourlifeyourvoice.org


For the purposes of this post I want to highlight their resource page covering the topic of grief. Their website provides tips on how to ease grief, ways to take care of yourself after a loss, and understanding the common human responses to losing a loved one. While the information provided is limited, it's presented in a succinct and accessible way. It's clearly worth checking out if you are looking for a quality resource to offer teens or young adults experiencing grief.

Are there other Internet resources dealing with grief that you would recommend?

Location: Omaha, NE, USA

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