Help Line
Photography by Alexandra Pentel
If you’re reading this, we’re here to listen and no issue is too big or small.
“You’ve reached HELP Line, what would you like to talk about today?” From talking over the emotional struggles of a breakup, to the academic anxiety of upcoming exams, to 3AM realizations that you might not be as straight as you originally believed, and even to overwhelming depression and loneliness, HELP Line at UVA is always there if you need to talk, to vent, to cry hysterically and have someone there to comfort you.
Because we care. It can be incredibly disconcerting trying to talk to a faceless stranger over the phone about your deepest darkest problems, the kind of things that you’re scared to tell anyone else, but we promise you that it is worth it. Despite our anonymity, we want to help in any and every way that we can, because your feelings are valid and deserve to be heard and talked through. Whenever you feel that there is no one else there to listen, we are always ready to support you.
College, and UVA in particular, can be extraordinarily challenging, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or like you don’t belong. It is crucial to remember that you cannot judge your own successes and happiness against your perceptions of that of your peers. We all face doubts and anxieties about our sense of belonging.
It is okay to feel broken sometimes. It is okay to not get back up again right away, to take the time you need to heal and grow. We all feel pressure to be okay all of the time, but there is no shame in needing to have someone there to listen.
Your feelings are important, and you are not alone in whatever battle you are facing. Keep fighting, you are stronger than you think. Someone cares about you, and we want to hear your story. Whether you want someone to talk to or some words of encouragement, HELP Line is here for you no matter what.
Help Line, University of Virginia
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at UVA on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to University of Virginia students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
