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Free texting service offers support for people in crisis

Reporter: Lindsey Sablan
Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. A free texting service is aimed at saving the lives of those living in crisis.

Broward County high school seniors Spencer, Kevin and Samantha teamed up with Crisis Text Line to prevent future crises from happening.

Students can text “Hello” to 741-741 and speak with a trained counselor anonymously if needed.

“We’ve got such a big stress load that’s given to us between school work, real work with jobs and friends and relations,” Samantha said.

Broward County schools are now promoting the texting service by adding the information to student identification cards, T-shirts and posters.

While the child’s name is never released, the Crisis Text Line can gather data for the district showing key issues, peak times and even triggers.

MORE: View trends across texter conversations here.

“Our county had 11 students die by suicides last year,” Counselor Dr. Charlene Grecsek said. “We know that a young person or an individual who commits suicide does so within four hours of thinking about it.”

The texting service aims to save a life one text at a time.

Southwest Florida school districts are not partnered with Crisis Text Line at this time, but Lee County does work with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Charlotte County has a local behavioral clinic.

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