Crisis Chat Service

ABOUT IFS CRISIS CHAT

As a leader in the provision of behavioral health crisis services in Northeastern North Carolina, Integrated Family Services, PLLC has expanded our service array to include Crisis Chat. We are here to provide online emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services to individuals within the Trillium Health Resources LME/MCO catchment area. All crisis chat specialists are trained in crisis intervention.

Who should use the IFS Crisis Chat program? Anyone who is depressed, despairing, going through a hard time, or just needs to talk, including people who are thinking about suicide. Any life issues may be discussed on the Chat program. The crisis chat specialists are here to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing.

What should I expect during an IFS Crisis Chat session? The goal of the IFS Crisis Chat service is to help you reduce stress and feel empowered to make healthy decisions. You will be asked questions regarding your safety, emotions and thoughts surrounding the situation, feelings of depression, your current social situation, and if you have any thoughts of suicide. If a chat specialist feels you are in danger they will speak with you about linking with our Mobile Crisis Management team, accessing emergency services, and/or additional contact information to ensure your safety. The chat specialist will work with you to create a safety plan if necessary. Your participation in IFS Crisis Chat does not constitute mental health care or treatment and does not constitute a therapist-client relationship. This service does not substitute for professional health care.

Are all IFS Crisis Chat communications secure and confidential? The confidentiality and security of chats is ensured through the IFS chat software provider, which uses the same encryption and data protection standards required by major financial institutions to transact business with each other. All of your communications are securely encrypted from your computer to ours.

ACCESSING IFS CRISIS CHAT

The IFS Crisis Chat service is available to residents of Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Craven, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, New Hanover, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Onslow, Tyrrell, Warren and Washington counties. If all chat specialists are busy assisting other visitors you will be asked to try the chat again in a half hour. If the chat service is not open we encourage you to call our 24/7 Mobile Crisis Hotline at 1-866-437-1821.

Step 1: Click the “Chat with us” icon at the top of any of the pages on the integratedfamilyservices.net site.

Step 2: Complete and submit the brief pre-chat questions

Once you have completed your chat session, you will also be asked to respond to a few post-chat questions about our service. Learning more about your experiences with IFS Crisis Chat will allow us to further develop our service to more closely fit your needs. We would really appreciate your feedback.

IFS Crisis Chat etiquette

  • Use a computer with a strong internet connection to minimize disruptions.
  • Use respectful language
  • Stay focused on the chat and respond promptly, limit multitasking
  • If you need to step away from your computer, let us know or end the chat and come back when you have more time.

If the service appears ‘offline’ or ‘busy’, please call our Mobile Crisis Hotline at 1-866-437-1821– we are available 24/7.

If you or someone you know is in danger or needs immediate medical attention, please call 911.

Hours of Operation:
24 hours a day / 7 days a week / 365 days a year