In the United States, approximately one in every four college students has a diagnosable mental health condition, and 73 percent of those students have experienced a mental health crisis on campus. Last year, I was one of those students, and I ended up reaching out for help through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline because that seemed like the easiest thing to do at the time.

In addition to the Lifeline, the Counseling Center has a 24-hour hotline for students in need of therapy and consultation, and there are also local resources. However, due to the urgent nature of a mental health crisis, as well as the sheer volume of students in need of help, calling a phone number is not always an effective option. To make it easier for students to easily receive the help they need, NC State should provide an internal crisis text service.

Texting is something that most college students are able to do quickly and easily, which is important because in times of crisis, it can be very hard to think clearly, and simple tasks such as dialing a phone number can be difficult. Also, for those who might already experience anxiety, dialing a number on a phone and making a call can be an extremely difficult and even impossible task.

Also, because the majority of college students live in dorms or apartments, it can be difficult to find a quiet, private place to make the call. While speaking with someone on the phone can be incredibly helpful, some situations require more help than what a single phone call can provide. A text message, unlike a phone call, can be made from anywhere and can be done discreetly, which allows the student to retain a sense of privacy.

Also, it can be difficult sometimes to share problems with a stranger, especially when you don’t know who could be on the other end of the line. In addition to a campus hotline, a crisis text line would allow students to connect with trained counselors, campus police, or even their peers.

While Wake County does have a crisis text line, the high prevalence of individuals using the line often means long wait times, which during a time of crisis can have devastating effects. In my experience, there were 53 people ahead of me when I attempted to reach someone via text message, and I ended up not speaking to anyone at all. In critical moments such as a mental health crisis, time is always of the essence. However, an internal text line carries the potential to be more effective than a regular phone line.

Most importantly, an internal crisis line that is only accessible for NC State students could make it easier to access help in a timely manner. Even if there is a wait time, students could still be redirected to resources such as the campus police or the regular phone line if the wait is too long.

While the regular suicide prevention hotline can be an incredibly helpful resource, it is not effective or useful for everyone and should not be the only resource available for students who are experiencing a mental health crisis. In addition to the suicide prevention line and the resources provided by the Counseling Center, a crisis text line that is only for NC State students will help create a campus environment where each and every student has the ability to ask for and receive help when needed.