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The majority of adolescents going through depression in the United States do not receive the treatment they need. This can be due to many different reasons, like not having the proper resources or means to communicate their symptoms of teen depression and overwhelming feelings. Mental health should not be taken lightly, and neither should teenage depression.
Teens with mental disorders that find themselves in this position can get help via lines of communication such as youth counseling helplines. This can be done with the use of an outbound call center or inbound call center. They provide easy access for teens having symptoms of depression to speak about their troubles and develop a course of action to tackle them. Teen depression is real and treatable, and youth counseling helplines can aid teens to follow the right steps towards recovery with these five tips.
Tips To Run A Youth Counseling Helpline
1. Train The Staff.
The staff at a youth counseling helpline call center is the teen’s first point of contact when connecting an inbound call, so it is essential to have workers who are clinically certified to work with depressed teens and skilled in customer service. Some teens don’t know that their overwhelming anger and sadness are symptoms of depression and may sometimes even lash out at counselors. However, it is up to the call center agent to control the situation to stop it from getting out of hand.
2. Customize The Help.
The contact center should develop and establish various scripts to be used by the call center agents that will help guide adolescents through their thoughts and feelings effectively. These scripts should include questions about the teen’s life, signs of depression, headaches, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts. They should ask about serious problems or stressful situations they may be going through or have gone through in the past year. It’s useful to include questions about family history of depression, bipolar disorder, feelings of worthlessness, school performance, substance abuse, or any other medical conditions to get a glimpse at the teen’s history. Lastly, teens battling mental disorders should get assistance in the appointment setting process, learn about treatment recommendations such as antidepressants and possible side effects, or even get referrals to a psychologist or psychiatrist for psychotherapy. Call center agents should be aware of the teenager’s depression symptoms to apply the right course of action.
3. Encourage Different Methods Of Therapy.
Encouraging teens with major depressive disorder or mood disorders, for example, to try out various types of therapy and have follow-up sessions can have a great impact on their recovery. Different methods of therapy include talk therapy, experimental therapy (e.g., meditation, martial arts, physical activity), and creative arts like painting or music to help get through the pain. Having a variety of recommendations tailored for the caller opens up their perspective to life outside their mental disorder or hard time.
4. Be Available 24/7.
A helpline will act as a support team when the teenager has no one else in their life to speak to. So, it is necessary to have a call center that is available 24/7. Outbound call centers should be equipped with a solid CRM system that can help the outbound call center agents automate calls to new or recurring young people. They should also have messaging systems to reach out to young adults with random or routine check-ins. Lastly, the CRM should help store phone numbers, gather data for metrics, and provide tools to set reminders for outbound calls.
5. Involve The Community.
Helplines and teens would benefit if communities got involved. They represent support systems that encourage building relationships and healthier coping patterns. Call centers can achieve this by utilizing software that expedites the process of making cold calls for telemarketing. This also helps for market research, or even setting up appointments with potential customers. Call centers can launch outbound campaigns for lead generation to draw in potential clients, advertise on social media, and market their products and procedures to the whole community.
Getting professional help is the first step towards a healthier life. Outbound call center services are key for reaching out to distressed teens. Following these tips will help your youth helpline and call center improve your running operations.
