Unlike many human services organizations who partner with Illinois State University, Personal Assistance Telephone Help, Inc. (PATH Inc. or PATH Crisis Center) was created in 1971 by Illinois State students in partnership with faculty, the Campus Religious Center, and local community members. The mission was simple: Help those in crisis via the telephone. In 1971, a lot of that crisis was related to the drug culture (drug overdoses, bad acid trips, etc.), but the mission quickly expanded to helping students and community members handle general crisis, mental health, and suicide prevention calls.
Everyone chooses to follow their own path, but for many it doesn’t always go as expected. PATH Inc. has been there for thousands of students and community members who needed assistance talking with someone to help get them past an obstacle in their life path. And to answer those calls, PATH Inc. historically has relied on volunteers, largely from Illinois State. In fact, there’s good reason to believe, based on the opinions of a variety of mental health clinicians around the state, that it’s likely that a large portion of Illinois State graduates who became mental health clinicians over the last 50 years were probably PATH Inc. crisis call center volunteers.
Today, discussing mental health, crisis needs, and suicide prevention has become much more mainstream, even when compared to just a few years ago. The award-winning volunteer crisis work done at PATH Inc. for over 50 years has led to a recent significant expansion. In 2022, PATH Inc. became the primary vendor for the Illinois Division of Mental Health (IDMH) to provide mental health and suicide prevention services for Illinois’ citizens calling 988, the new 3-digit number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. As part of the 988 implementation, PATH Inc. is hiring around 100 crisis-call center staff and is expected to grow even larger in the coming months and years. Illinois State’s Career Services, Hire-A-Redbird program, and assistance from various department chairs have helped in the recruiting efforts during this unusual post-COVID employment era. As part of this continued partnership, PATH Inc. hopes to further work with its Illinois State partners to create a career path for internships in crisis work that could lead to employment opportunities with PATH Inc. upon graduation.
While PATH Inc. continues to provide and expand its crisis services through 988, it also provides 211 Information and Referral call center services and uses a strong volunteer base from Illinois State to support callers from around the state to locate health and human service resources. PATH Inc. currently covers 51 of 102 Illinois counties and recently has been approached by the Illinois 211 governing body to expand to another 32 counties. The volunteer hours earned by students who work on 211 may help them get into certain academic programs, are used as part of their fraternal requirements, or are simply the way they choose to help their community.
The partnership with Illinois State goes beyond simple volunteering as PATH Inc. has been a regular site location for internship opportunities, particularly in its Homeless Services Department. With a very small, and significantly underfunded program, PATH Inc. provides homeless services to anyone, even if they have been kicked out of local shelters. PATH Inc. also provides the lead coordination of an 11-county homeless services consortium. In the nearly 25 years of providing homeless services, PATH Inc. has relied on numerous Illinois State social work (and from other academic departments) interns who help make a huge difference in the lives of the homeless.
Countless lives have been saved and positively impacted due to the time, talent, and skill sets of Illinois State students and faculty. The collaboration between PATH Inc. and Illinois State has been successful for over 50 years and should continue on and expand over the next 50 years.
PATH Inc. has volunteer opportunities with the 211 system and employment opportunities with its 988 Crisis Call Center available online.
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7/365 across the United States by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255.
