Warmline logo

A warmline is a peer-run listening line staffed by people in mental health recovery themselves.

WARMLINE DIRECTORY:
Scroll down to see a directory of known warmlines around the US.

NEWLY UPDATED!!! Last update
Send Changes To: hdt@mbrlc.org

Sign up for a warmline and/or peer-run respites electronic mailing list.

Research on warmlines, get involved.

Useful information on starting a warmline and more.

What is a Warm Line and What Should I Expect When I Call One?

Mental Health Peer Respites

peer-run respite information from Live & Learn, Inc.

Other peer-run respite programs from National Empowerment Center
http://www.power2u.org/crisis-alternatives

Warmlines in the Media

Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community (MBRLC) recent Peer Warmline feature in the SAMHSA Recovery to Practice weekly newsletter 11/12/10.

Warm line featured in the Boston Globe on February 5, 2009! (Article written before our collaboration with NERLC and the expansion from three to six days a week.)

Article about the Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community warmline by Carey Goldberg

As calls to crisis hotlines spike amid the coronavirus, those who respond feel the strain (features Ron Honberg) The lifesaving lesson suicidal people can teach a world in a pandemic It's not a hotline, it's a 'warmline':It gives mental health help before a crisis heats up.

Warmlines Research

Dalgin, R.S., Dalgin, M.H. & Metzger, S.J. (2018). A Longitudinal Analysis of the Influence of a Peer Run Warm Line Phone Service on Psychiatric Recovery. *Community Mental Health Journal* 54, 376=E2=80=93382 (2018). https://doi-org.ezp.scranton.edu/10.1007/s10597-017-0161-4

Dalgin, R.S., Maline, S., & Driscoll, P. (2011). Sustaining recovery through the night: Impact of a peer-run warm line. *Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal *35(1), 65-68. https://doi-org.ezp.scranton.edu/10.2975/35.1.2011.65.68

Pudlinski, C. (2004). The pros and cons of different warm line settings. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 28(1), 72=E2=80=9374. doi:10.2975/28.20=04.72.74

Pudlinski, C. (2001). Contrary themes on three peer-run warm lines. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 24(4), 397=E2=80=93400. doi:10.1037/ h0=095065.


The Warmline Guide is now live at:
http://www.power2u.org/peer-run-warmline-resources



WARMLINE DIRECTORY

To search for Warmlines by state, click on a state in the list below or scroll down.

(Note: Warmlines listed in red are nationally accessible and welcome calls from anywhere)



Alabama


Alabama peer-run warm line manned by peers in recovery from mental illness: 1-844-999-4647

Monday-Friday 2pm-8pm ET; Saturday & Sunday 3pm-8pm ET
Wings Across Alabama WarmLine


Arizona

Tucson Warmline (sorry no longer takes out of state calls)

520-770-9909 or 877-770-9912 in southern Arizona
Monday – Sunday 8 AM - 12 AM
Local crisis number: 520-622-6000



Vision of Hope Warmline

602-347-1100

Hours: 24/7 never closes.

Only accepting callers from Maricopa County


California



Project Return Peer Support Network
www.prpsn.org
Now accepting calls nationwide
Warmline hours 7 days a week 5pm-10pm PST
(888) 448-9777 English
(888) 448-4055 Spanish

The OC Warmline - NAMI Orange County

(714) 991-6412

Hours: 9am to 3am Monday-Friday; 10am to 3am Saturday and Sunday
Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Farsi
Interpreter Services available

Peer Warmline Connection

(707) 565-4466

Hours: Friday - Sunday evenings, 5:30pm-9:30pm

The California Peer-Run Warn Line

Phone: 1-855-845-7415
Live Chat
Peer Run Warmline website
Current Hours:
Sunday: 7am - 9pm
Monday: 7am - 11pm
Tuesday: 7am - 11pm
Wednesday: 7am - 11pm
Thursday: 7am - 11 pm
Friday: 7am - 11pm
Saturday: 7am - 3pm

San Diego Warmline for San Diego residents
619 295-1055
Open 3:30 PM to 11:00 PM 7 days a week.

NAMI Santa Clara County
Our information: Phone: (408) 453-0400,
option 1 for Warmline 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
option 4 for After Hours Voicemail box
Email: info@namisantaclara.org
Website: www.namisantaclara.org
NAMI Santa Clara County has a Warmline that offers support, compassionate listening and information on local mental health resources.

San Joaquin
(209) 468-3585 or 1(888) 468-9370
Operating 24/7 since July of 2008.
For local San Joaquin County residents only.

Northern Valley Talk Line
Butte County, California
A confidential non-crisis peer support network.You are not alone, we are here to listen.
Toll Free: 1-855-582-5554
Open 4:30 pm-9:30 pm 7days/week 365 days/year

https://nvcss.org/butte/nvtl
Talk line is funded by Butte County Mental Health & MHSA funding.

Warm Line: Consumer to Consumer - The Meeting Place Clubhouse, Inc.
Toll Free: (800) 920-WARM (9276) and (619) 295-1055
Hours: 4:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M., 7 days a week except Holidays.
Only serves San Diego County, CA.


Colorado



Rocky Mountain Crisis Partner peer line (newly listed 7/25/18)
1 844-493-8255 and then press *
We are open 7 AM to 12AM every day, including holidays, and we serve the state of Colorado.

Connecticut



Common Thread Warmline
800-316-9145
5 pm – 10 pm, 7 days a week

Greater Waterbury Peer Support Line
800-314-2680
5 pm – 10 pm, 7 days a week including holidays.

Handz On Warmline
888-608-1426 Toll-Free
5 pm -10 pm, Monday through Friday
The WARMLINE is a consumer run peer support center that offers Peer Support, Advocacy,Education and Links with mental health services. It is Confidential & Non-Jugdemental.

Safe Harbor Warmline
800-258-1528
5 pm -10 pm, 7 days a week

Soundview Warmline
800-921-0359
5 pm – 10 pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Shareline - Southeastern Mental Health Authority
(860) 885-7274
Hours: Monday through Friday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm.

Delaware



Warmline - The Rick VanStory Center
Appears to be discontinued, want to start a warmline in Delware? hdt@mbrlc.org


Florida



MHA SETH Line
954-578-5640
Hours: Monday - Friday 6-10p

Gainesville Peer Respite, Inc.
Peer-Supported Warmline
352-278-0529
Accepting nationwide calls on a peer-supported warmline
(Overnight respite stays are provided to Alachua County residents only)

CLEAR Warm Line
Toll-free statewide Florida Warm Line
Number: 1 (800) 945-1355
Hours: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST Every night of the year including holidays.

Georgia



Decatur Peer Support, Wellness and Respite Center
888-945-1414; Warmline: (404) 371-1414
Operates 24 hours a day

Cartersville Peer Support, Wellness and Respite Center
(770) 276-2019
Operates 24 hours a day

Cleveland Peer Support, Wellness and Respite Center
(855) 482-2933; Warmline: (706) 865-3601
Operates 24 hours a day

Moultrie Peer Support, Wellness and Respite Center
(229) 873-9737
Operates 24 hours a day

Georgia Crisis and Access Line
(800)715-4225
Operates 24 hours a day


Illinois


Illinois Warmline - Illinois Mental Health Collaborative

(866) 359-7953

Hours: Monday - Friday from 8 am to 8 pm (Central)

(Available to Illinois Callers only - Does not take calls from out of state callers)


Indiana



Warmline - KEYS Consumer Organization

800-933-5397

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; talk to each individual for fifteen minutes each day.


Iowa



Iowa Warmline

844-775-9276

The Warm Line is available for the following counties in Iowa: Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Johnson, Jones and Linn.


EASTERN IOWA MENTAL HEALTH REGION PEER RESPITE SUPPORT LINE

(516) 688-7484

The Warm Line open 24/7 and is available for the following counties in Iowa: Scott, Clinton, Jackson, Cedar and Muscatine

Website for Eastern Iowa Support Line

Kansas



CHATLINE - MHA of South Central Kansas

(316) 684-CHAT (2428)

(316) 425-6986

Hours: 5:00 - 10:00 pm every day except designated agency holidays

Compassionate Ear Warmline

866-WARM-EAR (927-6327)

Local Number is: (913) 281-2251

4 pm - 10 pm, 7 days a week

Kansas crisis number: 800-784-2433


Kentucky



Warm Line - Participation Station

(859) 252-0058 Lexington area

(877) 840-5167 Bluegrass area

Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30am-9:00pm; Friday - Saturday 5:00pm-9:00pm.

Participation Station


Louisiana

The Louisiana Warm Line

The Louisiana Warmline is a noncrisis phone line staffed by trained and certified Peer Support Specialists providing confidential and non-judgmental peer support. The Warmline is open to all adults living in Louisiana who are interested in this service.

Toll Free: 1-800-730-8375
Hours: Wed-Sun from 5 p.m.-10 p.m.


Maine



Maine Warm Line - Sweetster, Inc.

Statewide: (207) 772-9276

Statewide clinical crisis number: (866) 771-WARM (9276)

Hours: 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The Warm Line is a toll free number from anywhere in Maine.

smetzger@sweetster.org

Sweetser's intentional warm line


Maryland



Maryland Peer Warm-Line

We help individuals living with mental health and/or substance use needs. We provide support and resources for people who are having a difficult time, might be isolating, might be entering in or out of a hospital, or if you just need to talk to somebody.

1-877-794-7337 (PEER)

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 3pm – 9pm


Massachusetts



The Peer Warm Line - Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community (MBRLC)

Toll Free: (877) 733-7563

Hours: Monday to Sunday [7 days a week], 4pm - 7:45 pm

Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community Peer Support Line Website

Western Mass RLC Peer Support Line
Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (WMRLC)
Toll Free: (888) 407-4515

Hours: Monday through Sunday [7 days a week], 7pm-9pm Western Mass Peer Support Line Website

Baycove Peer Support Warmline

(857) 378-4997

Now open 7 days a week, 9AM - 5pm ET

Edinburg Peer Warmline

617 875 0748

Now open 7 days a week, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM ET


Michigan



Peer Support Warmline

call 888-PEER-753 (888 733 7753)
hours: 10am-2am, 7 days a week
IF you are Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing person in need of help, please use VRS to reach this hotline.

Article/website on Peer Support Warmline


Minnesota



Mental Health Minnesota Warmline

Monday-Saturday, 5 PM-10PM.

Toll free: 877.404.3190.

We also have a textline that can reached by texting "Support" to 85511.

See website


Missouri

Friendship Line - Depressive, Manic-Depressive Association of St. Louis

Hours: Weekdays from 9 a.m. to4 p.m.

Weekends and holidays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Local Phone: (314) 652-6105
Toll Free:1-866-525-1442



NAMI Missouri Warmline

Local: 573-624-7727
Toll Free: 800-374-2138

Hours: 9 am - 5 pm, Mon - Fri. Weekends and holidays are 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm



Central Missouri crisis number

1-800-833-3915



DMDA of St. Louis Friendship Line

Toll-free: 1-866-525-1442
Local: 314-652-6105



Mental Health Association of the Heartland "Compassionate Ear Warm Line"

Local: 913-281-2251
Toll-free: 1-866-927-6327

English Line: 4:00–10:00 pm 365 days
Spanish Line: 5:00–8:00 pm M-F



The TLC Warmline

We are the TLC Warmline (TLC stands for Talk, Listen, Care).

Warmline is temporarily unavailable.

Open from 4 PM until 10 PM 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Local: 573-651-3642 and Toll Free: 1-877-626-0638.

We are a service of the Community Counseling Center and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Visit our web at www.cccntr.com
*Note: Sorry, no longer taking out of state calls.



The Hope Center NAMI Southwest Missouri

Mon-Fri 9:30 am-5:00pm CST
Sat 9:00 am-3:30pm CST
Sun 10:00 am-4:00pm CST

Local Phone:(417) 864-3676
Toll Free: 1-877-535-4357




Montana



Montana Warmline and Virtual Drop-In Center - MHA of Montana

Toll Free: (877) 688-3377

Hours: Monday - Friday 4:00-10:00 PM

Saturday-Sunday 1:00-10:00 PM

http://www.montanawarmline.org/


Nebraska



Keya Warmline: (402)261-5959
Honu Warmline: (402)975-2032
Mha-ne.org
The Keya House is a respite home that is staffed by a peer 24/7. You can google The Keya House, or visit our website for more information. We have a warmline at that location that has peers on the other line 24/7.

New Hampshire



Keene Area Warmline

866-352-5093

7 pm – 10 pm, 7 days a week

Local crisis number: 603-357-4400

(note: this warmline may be merging with Stepping Stone as of 7/1/09)

Stepping Stone Warmline

603-543-0920 or locally: 888-582-0920

5 pm – 10 pm, 7 days a week

Carlemont/Lebanon Warmline

888-582-0920

5 pm - 10 pm

Laconia/Concord Warmline

800-306-4334

5 pm - 10 pm, 7 days a week

Laconia crisis number: 603-524-1100
Concord crisis number: 603-934-3400

Connections Peer Support Center
Outreach Warmline: 1-800-809-6262

Mon - Fri; 5pm-10pm

Call and either talk to someone or if we are on the line with someone, leave a message and we will call you back before the end of the day.

Peer Support Warmline 1-877-452-5433 Everyday

5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Call if you are lonely, want to hear a friendly voice, or if you have a problem you want to talk about. Warmlines are staffed by consumers: people in recovery who have been trained to listen and give support.


Nevada



WarmLine - HOPE Nevada/DBSA Souther Nevada

Toll Free: (855) 948-HOPE (4673)

Hours: 24 hours a day; 7 days a week.


New Jersey



Peer to Peer Support Line - MHA of Morris County

Toll Free: (877) 760-4987

Hours: The Peer to Peer Support Line is a non-crisis telephone support program for consumers and run by consumers. It is available 365 days per year from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

http://www.mhamorris.org/page.php?p=6

Peer Recovery Warmline

1-877-202-5588

Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 10:00PM

Saturday - Sunday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

This line offers a peer counseling service, providing ongoing telephone support to behavioral health consumers as they work toward their recovery. (Messages received during off-hours are returned the next business day.)

http://www.mhanj.org/page.php?p=12


New Mexico



PEER to PEER Warmline

855-4NM-7100 [1-855-466-7100]

Available by phone 3:30pm-11:30pm

Available by text 6pm-11pm


New York




People USA Peer Warmlines

Please call the phone number and extension for the county you are in:
Dutchess County, New York: 845-452-2728 ext 606
Orange & Ulster County, New York: 845-452-2728 ext 607
Putnam County, New York: 845-425-2728 ext 616
Warren/Washington County, New York: 518-502-1172

All peer support lines available 24 hours a day, 7 days (always open)

People USA Peer Warmline Website


The Empowerment Center in New York

877-HELP-800, 877-4357-800

Available 8 AM - 8 PM M-F (EST)

Parachute NYC, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Initiative

646-741-HOPE

Open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Parachute NYC is supported by a federal Healthcare Innovation Grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

www.communityaccess.org

Peer Support Warm Line - Unique Peerspectives

(315) 475-1997

Hours: Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Only open to residents of Onondaga County.

Phone Link: A Peer Support Warmline - MHA of Nassau County

(516) 489.0100 x2

Hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Spanish speaking on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Incuding holidays.

http://www.mhanc.org/?PageID=712

Association for mental health and wellness peer support line (newly added 7/25/18)

631-471-7242 ext. 1217

Hours: Saturdays 5pm to 10pm and Sundays 2pm to 7pm

http://www.mhaw.org/programs/peer-support-line

Otsego County New York Regional Warm Line

The local telephone number is: 607 433-0661 and our 800 number is: 1 800 377-3281

Our hours of operation are: Monday through Friday from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 10:30 pm



We've been serving the mental health community nationwide since 1999 and have recently extended the reach and duration of our services.

Chaut/Catt Warmline

1-877-426-4373 Hours are 4-11 pm Daily Texting available at 716-392-0252 We are open 7 days a week



Serving Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties of Western New York



Cayuga County in New York Regional Warm Line

Peers in Cayuga County, Inc 315 246 3004 answered 24/7/365

North Carolina




ENC Warmline

Open Monday through Thursday 10am-10pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am-midnight
toll free 1-855-539-6316

Ohio



http://cincywarmline.org/

Cincinnati Warmline

open 24 hours

(513) 931-WARM or (513) 931-9276

http://cincywarmline.org/

Lorain Warmline

7 days per week, 365 days a year from 1pm to 10pm.

1-800-888-6161

http://nordcenter.org/


Oregon



David Romprey Oregon Warmline - Community Counseling Solutions
Serving Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Grant Counties

Toll-Free 1-800-698-2392
7 days a week 9am-11pm PST
David Romprey Warmline Website

24-Hour Warmline - Recovery Outreach Community Center

(971) 239-7255

Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Pennsylvania



new! PHMCA Virtual Warmline via Zoom

(646) 558-8656 meeting id# 99026924170 (Click here to enter Zoom meeting)

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9pm-1am; Friday-Saturday 7am-1am>
Currently only serves Adams, Perry and Cumberland counties
PMHCA Virtual Warmline webpage

Delaware County Warmline (Delco)

tollfree 1-855-464-9342
Hours: Monday-Friday 6pm to midnight; 1pm-11pm weekends
View warmline website by Elwyn

Philadelphia Warmline (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

855-507-9276
(267) 507-3945

Tuesday through Sunday, 4-7pm

Allegheney County Warmline

866-661-9276

10 am - 12 pm, 7 days a week

http://www.peer-support.org/warmline.html

Erie County, PA

Hours are noon to 7:30 PM Monday-Friday (except holidays)

1-877-550-4007

Valley Creek Crisis Center - Chester County, PA

1-866-846-2722

Hours: 24/7 every day of the year.

Peer Support Talk Line - Serving Montgomery County

Monday-Sunday from 3 PM - 8 PM

1-855-715-TALK

www.accessservices.org

Warmline - The NHS Stevens Center

(877) 243-7153

Hours: Service for Cumberland/Perry County, PA

Mon. and Fri. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Tues. - Thurs. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Sat. - Sun. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Warmline of Beaver County - MHA in Beaver County

Local: (724) 775-9507

Toll Free:(877) 775-9276

Hours: 365 days per year from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., including holidays.

Warmline - Family Answers

(610) 820-8451 or (610) 820-8549

Hours: Warmline operates daily but is not able to accept calls between 2AM-6AM. Only accepts calls from Lehigh and Northampton Counties, PA.

http://www.familyanswers.org/prgm_warmline.html

Warm Line - The Grapevine Center

Local: (724)-431-2488
Toll Free: 1-866-431-2489
Hours: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year

http://grapevinecenter.org/warm-line/

WARM LINE/Seven Mountains WARM LINE - The Advocacy Alliance

The WARM LINE is for persons from Carbon-Monroe-Pike, Lackawanna-Susquehanna, Schuylkill and Wayne Counties

(866) 654-8114

The Seven Mountains WARM LINE is for persons from Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Centre Counties

Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 365 days a year

(877) 411-9102

http://theadvocacyalliance.org/programs-and-services/warm-lines/


Tennesee


Texas



Warm Line MHA of Greater Tarrant County.

1-817-546-7806 (not a crisis line)

2 pm - 6 pm M-F

Hope Peer Support Warmline

Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday 4pm -10pm

An Ear to Listen and a Passion to Care

Number: 844-755-4673 (HOPE)


Utah



Utah Warm Line

833-SPEAKUT or (833) 773 - 2588 (toll-free)

(801) 587-1055 (local) Hours: 8am-11pm daily
Open to all Utah residents.

Website for Utah Warm Line


Vermont



Support Line - Pathways Vermont

(833) VT - TALKS or (833) 888 - 2557

Hours: 3 pm - 6am, 7 Days a Week

Open to all Vermont residents.



The Rutland County Peer Run Warm-Line

(802) 770-4248

Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Open to all Vermont.

Peer Access Line (PAL) of Chittenden County

A free support helpline and program of Vermont Psychiatric Survivors with support from HowardCenter.
(802) 321-2190

Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 6-9 p.m.

local crisis number is:  1-802-488-6400

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors of Rutland

(800) 564-2106

Monday-Friday 9 AM to 4 PM. It is statewide.

Washington County Warm Line

(802) 229-8015

Hours: 6pm-11pm Every Day

Takes calls in state and out state


Virginia



(MHAV) Warmline - Mental Health America of Virginia

We are now open 365 days a year

(Monday through Friday from 9am to 9pm, weekends and holidays from 5pm to 9pm).

866-400-MHAV (866-400-6428).


West Virginia


PSI provides a warm line for non-emergency calls at (304) 679-8183. This phone is manned by a volunteer peer mentor for those times you can't reach your buddy or just need someone to listen.

http://www.peersupportinc.org/



Washington

The WarmLine - King County

Serving all of Washington State and national.

Local calls: 206-933-7001
National and out of area calls: 1-877-500-9276

Hours are 7 days a week from 5 PM till 10 PM PST

Greater Puget Sound

Local calls: 206.933.7001
Toll free: 1.877.500.9276

We are open Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays from 5 to 10 pm. All callers welcome.

Washington Warmline - Crisis Clinic

Local: (206) 933-7001
Tool Free: (877) 500-9276

Hours: Wednesday and Friday 5 pm to 9 pm

Open to all Washington state residents.


Wisconsin



Washington County Warm Line Calls

262-353-3540

Friday and Saturday 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Milwaukee Warmline

(414) 257-5775

9455 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, WI 53715-1002

email: mkewarmline@mail.com for Mary Kay Wagner
Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Saturday 6pm-10pm CT

Warmline, Inc. Milwaukee WI

(414) 777-4729

Hours: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday thru Monday

http://warmline-milwaukee.webs.com/


Solstice Warmline

(608) 244-5077

Hours: limited, call for details

http://soarcms.org


Iris Place Warmline

920-815-3217



To join a national email listserv of people who operate or are trying to start new warmlines, email hdt@mbrlc.org

This site can be reached at http://www.warmline.org


 

A Kind Voice is a topic based call-in line staffed by volunteers. If you’re feeling a bit alone and would just like to talk with a kind voice about a book you read, a movie or ball game you saw, the news of the day or a range of other topics, please call us at 800.876.2399. We are open from 9AM to 10PM EST, 7 days a week.
Visit http://www.akindvoice.org/.


Warmline research now in progress

Upcoming Warmline Research Study: A national survey of warmlines across the country is being designed for Fall 2020 to better understand the service itself (including access, design, peer listener training, etc.), the impact on callers and peer listeners, as well as the impact on other community mental health services. For more information contact Dr. Rebecca Dalgin at rebecca.dalgin@scranton.edu

Warmline training Information and other resource links




Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

Issue: Volume 35, Number 1 / Summer 2011

Pages: 65 - 68

URL: Linking Options

DOI: 10.2975/35.1.2011.65.68

Sustaining Recovery through the Night:
Impact of a Peer-Run Warm Line

Rebecca Spirito Dalgin A1, Simonne Maline A2, Peter Driscoll A3

A1 University of Scranton
A2 Sweetser, Brunswick, ME
A3 Amistad Peer Support and Recovery Center, Portland, ME

Abstract:

Objective: This exploratory study describes the impact of a peer-run warm line on the lives of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Methods: Phone surveys were completed with 480 warm line callers over four years. Results: Warm line callers reported a reduction in the use of crisis services and a reduction of feelings of isolation. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results indicate that peer-run warm lines can fill an important void in the lives of individuals living with mental illnesses. Although warm lines at any time of day are helpful, keeping warm lines running after 5pm and throughout the night provides support services not typically available after office hours and can assist with loneliness, symptom management, and the process of recovery. Warm lines staffed with appropriately trained, clinically supervised, compensated peer specialists can help round out mental health services in rural and urban communities. Future research should focus on the various implementation and funding options of this unique peer support service.