What to Expect When You Call the Hotline

At BARCC, our hotline exists to help survivors feel supported immediately and find the next steps they need to move forward. Volunteers are required to take an extensive, 40-hour rape crisis counselor training that prepares them to support people in all stages of their experience, from the immediate crisis after an assault to years and even decades into the healing process. Hotline counselors provide emotional support, referrals to services, and explain the resources available.

Here’s what to expect when you call our hotline:

1.  A friendly, nonjudgmental person, who believes you and hears you will answer your call.
2. We’ll ask some questions to help identify what would help you in this exact moment.

3. We’ll share ideas and options about what to do next, but how to move forward is your choice.

A few things won’t happen when you call BARCC. [cw: suicide]

1. We will NOT share your information with anyone unless you provide your consent.
2. You do NOT have to share any information you don’t want to. You can call our hotline completely anonymously by choosing option 2 in the main menu or by using our web chat barcc.org/chat
3. We will NOT call 911 unless you share that you will take action to end your life and you are unable to engage in safety planning. At the start of each call, we tell callers that sharing this kind of information may result in a call to 911. Callers always have a choice to share – or not share – what they’re going through.

We understand that there can be a risk of danger and retraumatization when emergency services are called to support individuals in crisis. This is why at BARCC, we do not call 911 without consent, unless the person shares they will take action to end their life imminently and they are unable to engage in safety planning. We explain this policy at the beginning of each conversation so callers always have a choice of what they choose to share with BARCC hotline counselors.

Ultimately, our goal is to provide survivors with a confidential space where they are in control of their own journey, no matter what challenges they face. We are here for you, we see you, and we believe you. If you need support, please don’t hesitate to call our 24-7 hotline at 800-841-8371 or chat 9 a.m.–11 p.m. barcc.org/chat.