What to Expect When You Contact YouthLine

We know that talking about what’s bothering you can be difficult and scary. Talking to someone at YouthLine may be the first time you say out loud what you’re going through. When you call us, we listen, support, and keep what you share to ourselves.*

What happens when you call? We’ll probably ask your name, zip code, and what you want to talk about, and we’ll listen. We won’t give you advice or tell you what to do. Instead, we’ll work with you to figure out next steps or just listen while you talk things out. If it’s helpful, we may tell you about places to get more information or where you can find long-term help. We’ll work really hard to make this a safe and comfortable conversation. YouthLine is for youth ages 10-24. If that doesn’t match you, we’ll work to get you connected to our organization’s adult crisis line. Translation services are available upon request.

Here are things we don’t do: we won’t judge, we won’t tell you what to do, and we won’t tell you that your feelings are dumb or unreasonable – because they aren’t. YouthLine’s teen volunteers and young adult interns are here to listen to you, to help you know that your feelings matter, and to help you feel better.

YouthLine calls, texts, chats, and email responses are provided in English. Translation is available for phone calls through a live interpreter. We help find available resources in languages other than English when requested.

* YouthLine is confidential to a point – while we will never share conversations had on the lines, we are mandatory reporters. If a young person is experiencing or has experienced abuse, neglect, or assault, or if there are immediate safety concerns, YouthLine may contact other agencies to ensure the best support and safety for the young person in crisis.

Getting Through Today

Life can be overwhelming. Family, friends, school, and jobs can take a toll on our mental and physical health. Taking care of yourself can be challenging—we know because that’s something we talk about with the youth who reach out to us every day at YouthLine. We’re here to help you take care of yourself and get through today.

Don’t let feelings of stress, loneliness, or sadness loom over you until they become too much. Instead, here are some tips to help make sure you’re taking care of your body, mind, and social life:

My Body

I’m feeling: tired, no energy, crummy, hungry, lazy.

When you’re not taking care of your body, nothing else feels right, so this is a great place to start when you feel like there’s too much going on to handle. Here’s what I will try to take care of my body when things are tough:

• Eat a tasty snack.
• Drink a big glass of water.
• Exercise (walk, run, bike, stretch, yoga, dance, lift weights).
• Get up, take a shower or bubble bath, get dressed.
• Turn on some music and dance.
• Take 10 deep breaths, try a breathing exercise (Google: square breathing, 7/11 breathing, 4-7-8 breathing).
• Go to bed early or take a nap.
• Call, text, or chat the YouthLine.

My Mind

I’m feeling: panic, sadness, hopelessness, negativity, frustration, anger.

When you’re really stressed, it’s important to relax your mind, and it can be really hard to do in the heat of the moment.  Here’s what I will try to take care of my mind when I feel out of control:

• Listen to music or work on a song I’m writing.
• Watch a movie or a show I like.
• Finish my homework or study.
• Do something artistic like draw, paint, or sing.
• Look in the mirror and tell myself, “I’m doing the best I can right now.”
• Write in a journal.
• Read a book.
• Limit or cut out the caffeine.
• Clean or organize one part of your space.
• Set a time limit on social media.
• Call, text, or chat the YouthLine.

My Social Life

I’m feeling: isolated, lonely, disconnected, left out, alone, anti-social.

Many of us feel better when we’re around other people. So a step in your plan could be to connect with others or reach out for more help. There’s no reason to try to deal with it alone. Here’s what I will do to take care of myself socially when I’m feeling alone:

• Call or text a friend or trusted adult in my life.
• Identify the people in my life who support me.
• Fill idle time by volunteering for something I care about.
• Search and follow mental health resources on social media (like YouthLine!).
• Find out what clubs my school has that I’d like to join.
• Play with my pet or take my neighbor’s dog for a walk (after asking permission, of course).
• Connect with friends on social media.
• When in doubt, get out and people watch! (Go to a park, bookstore, community center, etc.).
• Call, text, or chat the YouthLine.