How to Get Help from an Emotional Support Line

^{Find Free Help with BeWellLine}

Most people struggle with stress or mental health almost daily. Unfortunately, many of us do not reach out for help either because we are embarrassed, do not want to be a burden, or simply cannot afford it. BeWellLine offers a free emotional-support line to California residents that is available 24/7. Compassionate, trained peer support counselors are available to listen, give advice, offer coping strategies, and provide resources when struggling with any type of mental health issue, including a mental health crisis.

All California residents can use our emotional support line for free. Peer support counselors are trained to help you through a wide range of issues. Services are free thanks to a partnership between the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and Alter Health Group. BeWellLine will connect users with a peer support counselor in their community within minutes so they can get the help they need almost immediately.

^{What is an Emotional Support Line?}

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone about your mental health, stressors, or problems. It is great when you can reach out to friends or family for support; however, that is not always possible. Fortunately, an emotional support line can help you when you are struggling with depression or other mental health issues.

An emotional support line will connect you with trained peer counselors who can listen without judgment and provide feedback, advice, and resources to help you solve whatever issue you are facing. They are free and confidential. Unlike crisis lines or hotlines which are more focused on keeping you safe and connecting you with crisis resources quickly, you can use emotional support lines whenever you are feeling down, stressed, anxious, or lonely. However, you can also call an emotional support line during a crisis and they can help you find the places to go to or help you find higher levels of care.

^{Who Can an Emotional Support Line Help?}

Anyone in California can access an emotional support line and get help. Peer support counselors are trained to help out through many mental health issues, including understanding isolation and mental health disorders. Some reasons people reach out to an emotional support line include stress related to work or school, relationship issues, homelessness, financial struggles, mental health symptoms, feeling lonely, or having a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts. BeWellLine has specially trained counselors who can support middle school and high school-aged youth, as well as college students with unique struggles tied to isolation and associated disorders. While we may not be able to solve all your problems, we can take some of the weight off your shoulders or point you toward the right resources or mental health specialists.

^{How Can I Find a Free Emotional Support Line in California}

The best way to find a free emotional-support line in California is through BeWellLine. Our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Peer support counselors can communicate with you via our online chat, over the phone, or through video conferencing services. To access our services, you can visit our site where a chat window will pop up, or call us at 866-349-6854. Our system will connect you with a real person to talk to within minutes.

^{8 Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Time with an Emotional Support Line}

Emotional support lines allow easy and immediate access to getting help during difficult times. While counselors will help you through the session, there are some steps you can take before beginning to make the most out of your time, including:

1. Figure out which communication method works best for you: Emotional support lines offer different ways to communicate with counselors, including a chat window, voice-only communication, and live video conferencing. Before reaching out for support, figure out which form of communication you feel the most comfortable with and which will allow you to be the most open.
2. Find a comfortable and quiet space for sessions: Ambient noise and other people’s chatter can make it difficult to concentrate and hear during counseling sessions. Before reaching out to an emotional support line, make sure you are in a space that is quiet and comfortable so you can focus. You can find a room in your home, office building, or school where you will be alone and away from outside noise. It can also help to have a comfortable place to sit with blankets, water, and warm tea to ease any nervousness.
3. Make sure you are in an area with a clear signal or internet connection: Before you reach out to an emotional support line, make sure your cellphone has a clear signal if using the call-in number or a strong internet signal if using the mental health online chat or live video conferencing option. If your signal isn’t strong, communication between you and your peer support counselor can lag or be cut off completely. You don’t want to spend half of your time asking if they can hear you or repeating yourself.
4. Transition into a counseling mindset: When accessing counseling services away from in-person sessions in an office, it can be difficult to get into a counseling mindset since you are still in your environment. Try to see yourself in a counseling session, including not being under the influence of drugs or alcohol if possible, and that you are there to talk about yourself.
5. Write down what you want to talk about: Sometimes it can be difficult to articulate verbally what it is you need help with and during a session, you can forget some important things you wanted to bring up. Before you begin, you can write down a list of problems you want to work with and how you are currently feeling.
6. Make sure you won’t be interrupted: This goes along with finding a quiet and comfortable space. You can let others around you know you do not want to be interrupted, close the door, and make sure your phone is silent and won’t be receiving any notifications.
7. Be yourself: Most importantly, just be yourself. Peer support counselors will listen without judgment and accept you for who you are. Not putting up a front or mask you may usually use around others can help you be more vulnerable and get the most out of your session.
8. Have a notepad and pen ready: Emotional support lines are not only there to listen, but also to provide coping strategies, resources, and referrals to higher levels of care. Having a notepad and pen alongside will allow you to quickly make notes of any information they give you instead of stopping the session to go look for a pen and paper.

^{Make BeWellLine Your Emotional Support Line}

Make sure to keep BeWellLine in mind when experiencing any type of mental health issues. You can bookmark our website and add our number to your contacts for quick access whenever you need. Services are completely free to California residents, and we provide six free sessions to use via the Mindfuli platform. We are committed to helping more people have access to mental wellness and begin their journey toward a happier, healthier life. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time by visiting us online or calling our helpline at 866-349-6854.

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