Live Chat Changes

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For those of you who also use/have also used our live chat, please be aware that we have recently changed that service so that it is now for specific kinds of crisis only. Our staff and resource limitations, and issues with management of that service, have made clear to us that this is the best way we can offer and use that particular direct service, in conjunction with our other services, what they offer, and what their medium seems to work best for.

Here is how we are defining crises for the purposes and use of that service, starting today:
What's a crisis?
Crisis, trauma or acute stress can be about and stem from a lot of things: almost anything, really. Our crisis help is focused on the areas where we are skilled, educated and experienced, what topics our organization works with, and what we have the ability and the resources to ably help with.

Our crisis chat line staff can provide emotional support, information, and referrals for additional help with and around the following kinds of crisis or traumas, and the stress and other challenges that often stem from them. We can also help you figure out if any of the things below are going on or have been in the past if you're uncertain.
• Sexual abuse, assault or coercion (pressuring)
• Interpersonal or domestic abuse (emotional, verbal, sexual or physical), harassment (including bullying), and/or violence
• Living with sexually transmitted illness
• Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy (including pro-choice options counseling) as verified by a home pregnancy test or healthcare professional, unplanned or unwanted parenting, or trauma or emotional strife due to a reproductive choice or miscarriage.
• Being kicked out of your home
• Stress or trauma related to gender identity, sexual orientation, self-esteem or body image
• Breakups or hard feelings or conflicts within a sexual relationship or interaction
• Help for parents or guardians of teens or emerging adults who are in crisis

What isn't a crisis and what can't we help with?
The following are not crises we will and/or can work with in our crisis line. Issues we can't address in this particular service, but can and do in our other services are noted.
• Pregnancy scares or unplanned pregnancy discussion when there has NOT been a positive pregnancy test or diagnosis of pregnancy by a healthcare professional. We can discuss and help with this on our message boards or SMS service. Pregnancy care in the crisis line is only for those who are currently pregnant.
• General questions about bodies, sex, sexuality, reproduction or relationships that don't involve any of the issues listed above. We can discuss and help with this on our message boards or SMS service.
• General questions about our organization, services or staff. Those should be directed to our email.
• Medical emergencies pertaining to your physical or mental health. These should be brought to the immediate attention of a healthcare provider.
• Immediate danger from others or yourself, such as feeling suicidal, being in the middle of an escalating or explosive incident of abuse, or in the presence of someone who has just assaulted you. If you are in immediate danger, please call the police, get to an emergency room and do whatever you can to get out of danger and then access support services like ours. For those who are feeling suicidal specifically, reference unsuicide's large list of online resources internationally here.
• Mental health diagnosis, treatment or management. For help with these issues, see a healthcare provider in-person or take a look at the the online chat services for mental health issues available through I'm Alive or 7 Cups of Tea. We can help users with how and where to find and access mental healthcare on our message boards or SMS service.

Users who come into that line asking about anything that is not listed above as a crisis should understand and be prepared to be referred out, either to one of our other services or resources, or to an external resource or kind of care not affiliated with Scarleteen.