Four global networks of crisis helplines and crisis support services such as web chat and text, are marking World Mental Health Day this year with a position statement on these services being an essential part of every country’s plan for mental health and suicide prevention.

As an application of Universal Health Coverage principles, investments in crisis support services should ensure that they are available to all, wherever and whenever they are needed.

“Crisis support services offer an open, accessible and accepting point of contact for everyone. These services are based on a humanitarian belief that no person should be left alone in their times of despair and distress,” says Thilini Perera, CEO of LifeLine International.

Levels of distress are rising across the world as people face rising costs of living, difficulties securing employment, family pressures, violence and wars, climate change impacts, alongside the megatrends of economic, social and cultural changes, that are playing out in our times.

“Our helplines are there when people are experiencing intense and debilitating emotions, when they are having difficulties coping with the challenges in life before them,” says President of IFOTES, the International Federation of Telephone Emergency Services, Sonja Karrer.

The UN and the World Health Organization, along with civil society organizations and advocates, recognise that mental health psychosocial support is essential for a person to enjoy good mental health and fully function and participate in life. Crisis support services are an immediate form of psychosocial support with unique capabilities to connect with people in times of crisis.

“A befriending connection – a conversation with someone who listens and is concerned for you – can have remarkable, positive impacts on a person’s mental health and wellbeing,” says Neil Hawkins, Chair of Befrienders Worldwide.

A feature of any primary health care system is to anticipate and respond to predictable needs in the community; emotional and psychological distress should be considered a primary health priority with immediate psychosocial support built into the design of primary care capabilities.

“Telephone and text helplines reach people who will not otherwise approach mainstream health and social services as their first point of contact when seeking help – they are life changing and lifesaving services,” says Michael Reading, Chair of the International Council for Helplines.

Crisis support helplines operate in 145 countries, available to approximately 7.1 billion people.

“These services answer thousands of phone, text and online contacts every day, at all hours. People can find a local service on ThroughLine’s public service site Find A Helpline,” says ThroughLine founder Elliot Taylor. https://findahelpline.com/ to locate local services.

Crisis support services are effective for suicide prevention. Several research reviews have reported that they attract people who are contemplating ending their lives and can de-escalate suicidal distress by working with a person to understand the circumstances surrounding their despair and the potential to find reasons for living even in the darkest of times.

Several research studies show up to half of those who use a crisis support service go on to access another service towards making improvements in their lives. Crisis support services create bridges for people to cross towards the use of other services, including mental health care and social services to address ongoing problems in their lives.