Our mission
Lean On Me strengthens communities by providing peer-to-peer text lines that allow for easy access to confidential non-crisis support. We envision a world where anyone can seek and receive emotional support.
Our chapter
Lean On Me at the University of Chicago is a chapter of Lean On Me, which was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015. To learn more about their impact or inquire about establishing a new chapter, visit their website here.
How our hotline works
Lean On Me allows students to talk to trained peer Supporters in a convenient and anonymous setting. To learn more about our training process, please click here.
1. Text our hotline
Text UChicago’s hotline number whatever you’d like to talk about! This can range from brief messages such as “All of my friends are busy and I want someone to talk to” to a longer, more serious message. Our Supporters are here to listen and be there for you - the topic is your choice!
3. Receive a reply
The expected wait time is just under 5 minutes. While the service is available at any time, please remember that Supporters are your peers, who lead their own busy lives and occasionally remember to sleep. So the wait time for a conversation sent in at 4:30 AM may be longer, and we thank you for understanding that!
5. End the conversation
Conversations last for as long as you would like them to, and you can end a conversation with a Supporter at any time by texting “/bye” to the hotline. If you text again you will be matched with a new Supporter and they will not see what you wrote before.
2. Match with a Supporter
Once a text is received, all active Supporters will be informed that a request has come in, and within a few minutes you will be matched with one!
4. Have a conversation
You can now have a conversation with the Supporter! Feel free to text for as long as you like. If you ever feel uncomfortable with a Supporter text “/flag”, and we’ll match you with another! For a full list of commands, text “/help” to the hotline. Supporters never see your slash commands.
6. Provide feedback
Once a conversation ends, you will be asked to provide feedback, helping make the service better for future users. By no means is this mandatory, but we would really appreciate it. Your input will have a very real effect on the future of Lean On Me, and on changes we make to the service!
Meet our team
Cleo is a 4th year biology major and neuroscience minor, on a pre-med track. Other than speed-walking while being lost on campus, Cleo can often be found talking about her dog or watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Cleo Rosen
Chapter Coordinator
Nicole is a 4th year Biology and Anthropology major. They like to draw, listen to music, and knit in their free time.
Nicole Zhong
Vice-President
Gabriella is a fourth year biology major on the pre medicine track, minoring in health and society. Outside of academics she enjoys playing rugby, dancing with the OLAS group, and hanging out with her friends
Gabriella Rivera
Co-Training Coordinator
Grace is a fourth-year Public Policy Studies and Comparative Human Development double major. When she isn’t collecting public health data, researching abortion law and policy, or studying languages, you can find her watching sports or jogging in Jackson or Washington Park.
Grace Wang
Co-Training Coordinator
Alison is a fourth year double majoring in psychology and gender & sexuality studies. She is in greek life and on the PSA exec board! You can also usually find her in some on campus coffee shop.
Alison Tisol
Social Media Coordinator
Social Chair
Bio to be added soon!
Jordan Yi
Treasurer
Bio to be added soon!
Jessica Gulati
Supporter Manager
Our impact
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Join us at our winter training!
Lean on Me will be hosting our quarterly training session to become a supporter! If interested, please send us an email for the application (see "how to apply" or the Join section on this website) or message any of our board members!
Saturday, January 21st 9:00am-11:00am
Reg Room 204
