UIC InTouch Crisis Hotline

Anjali Chacko is an Honors College senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish.  Chacko is also a volunteer at the UIC InTouch Crisis Hotline. Volunteering her time at the InTouch Crisis Hotline has allowed Chacko to experience a practical, hands-on approach to apply her soft skills, such as communication, to help students.

In order to volunteer at the UIC InTouch Crisis Hotline students must apply and register for Psch 386 Crisis Counseling Technique I. The course is comprised of lectures and provides a hands-on application of practical skills by working in groups. Towards the end of the semester, students begin to volunteer by receiving calls to get more familiar with the hotline. After the course is completed, students are required to work one shift per week for a minimum of eight months following the end of the semester including the summer term. Students are also expected to work one weekend per month and the weekly hours are dependent on each individual.

The course is designed to help students develop and apply necessary crisis counseling services. Students are also instructed on the ethical and procedural guidelines for handling calls. Although the course requires a major commitment, Chacko describes volunteering for the UIC InTouch Crisis Hotline as very beneficial, “I became a better listener, learned how to work better in a team, and am meeting new people.” The InTouch Crisis Hotline has helped Chacko become an empathetic listener, developed her team building skills, and allowed her to expand her social network. Chacko highly recommends applying for and completing the course because it is also useful for someone searching to develop soft skills, such as communication and empathetic listening.

The InTouch Hotline is a free telephone crisis intervention, counseling, and referral service opened to all students and individuals in Chicago. Calls to the Hotline remain confidential and in a non-judgemental manner so students are encouraged to call and talk about any issue or concern they may be facing. The hotline’s purpose is to meet the need of all students, so there is no time limit on the phone conversations.The Hotline is open Sunday-Friday from 6-10 pm and students can call the hotline at 312-996-5535. Chacko stresses that the InTouch Crisis Hotline is open to all UIC students and urges students to call if they need someone to talk to.