Fort Bend ISD has updated its communication tools to support mental health and safety, allowing students, staff and families to text their concerns through TalkLine, the district’s confidential helpline, according to a FBISD announcement Monday.

This improvement is an expansion of the FBISD Speak Up initiative, launched in 2017 to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Now, in addition to calling the TalkLine phone number at 281-240-8255 to speak with someone, students can text the word “SPEAK” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor, according to the announcement. Both services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and individuals can use them to report concerning behavior, depressive or suicidal thoughts, family problems or issues with harassment.

Another avenue for contacting FBISD staff and administrators is the district’s Let’s Talk–Bullying feature, an online portal through which community members can report incidents of bullying or cyberbullying at any of the FBISD schools.