A Message to Our Community

Image Description: Blue state of Maine with a red heart inside, shown over the Lewiston skyline.

There are times when, even at The Telling Room, words fail us. 

Our hearts are with the many families impacted by last week’s events in Lewiston, which have been felt in every corner of our State. Our commitment to support youth—who have faced the tremendous challenges of recent years with courage and strength, time and time again—is steadfast. We stand in solidarity with the many educators across Maine who are now facing questions of how to support students in classrooms and schools, and with parents and families who have been grappling with how to talk about these events at home. 

We know that this experience is impacting us all differently—physically, emotionally, and mentally—as our community mourns. We know that writing can be an important tool for processing, whether through putting pen to paper about these experiences directly, or by finding solace in words or stories that transport us to another world. In this unprecedented time for Maine and our communities, we appreciate everyone’s care and compassion for youth as we all try to move forward together. 

Below you will find information and resources on how The Telling Room will be supporting our young writers during this time, hotlines and resources, as well as ways to support those directly impacted by these events. 

If there is anything we can do to support the youth in your life, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

With Care,
The Telling Room
writers@tellingroom.org 
(207) 774-6064

Telling Room Updates

We are eager to return to writing and sharing together this week. We also recognize that youth and families have been talking about these events in a variety of ways over the past few days, and students may have a range of understanding of current events as they join us from across different schools and communities to write. On Monday morning our staff convened to talk through the days and weeks ahead, and we are here to support our young writers as they bring themselves to the page, in whatever way meets their needs in this moment. 

  • If there is anything you would like to share with us about how your student is doing, as well as any concerns or ways we can support them, please feel free to reach out to us by email or phone at (207) 774-6064.

  • If your student isn’t quite ready to come back to programs yet, please let us know so that we know they are staying home.

  • We will have an age appropriate, non-verbal check-in opportunity available as students arrive, giving them the chance to let us know how they are feeling when they come to The Telling Room this week.

  • We will have an adult staff member available to touch base with you and your student at drop-off if you would like to connect with our team upon arrival. 

  • Additional teaching staff members will be available throughout programs if youth need to take a break from program activities at any point.

Ways to Give Back

Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund: 100% of every dollar donated will be allocated to people impacted and the organizations that will help guide Lewiston-Auburn through the process of healing.

United Way Community Fund: Support community partners including 211 Maine and others providing mental health services, crisis support, and additional critical needs to the affected communities.

Community Crisis Resources

24 Hour Crisis Resources:

  • If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Call or text 988: This suicide and behavioral health crisis hotline is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by trained crisis specialists offering free, confidential support for anyone. Specialists also can respond by chat at 988lifeline.org. Information for the deaf and hard of hearing is available here.

  • Call or text 1-888-568-1112: The Maine Crisis Line: is the state’s crisis telephone response service for individuals or families experiencing a behavioral health crisis or having thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm.

  • Call 1-800-985-5990: The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is a free, multilingual national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. 

  • LGBTQ+ youth can call 1-866-488-7386 or text 678678, or visit: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ to speak, text, or chat with a Trevor Project Counselor. 

  • Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor through the Crisis Text Line.

  • If you’re unsure, contact 211. It provides general information, including how to access behavioral health and social service resources, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information can also be found at 211maine.org.

Additional Support Resources:

  • Teens and young adults can text (207) 515-8398: The National Alliance on Mental Illness Teen Text Line connects youth with other youth to help them manage their challenges every day from 12pm - 10pm.

  • Clinicians, educators and first responders can call 1-800-769-9819: The FrontLine WarmLine offers free support services to help these professionals manage the stress of responding to disasters from 8am - 8pm, seven days a week.

  • Call (207) 221-8198 for help coping with stress: The StrengthenME Helpline offers free stress management and resiliency resources to anyone in Maine experiencing stress reactions from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. StrengthenME can help people develop coping strategies before emotional challenges escalate into more serious mental health problems.

  • Call 866-771-9276 to speak with staff with lived experience with mental health conditions: The Intentional Peer Support Warmline serves adults, aged 18 and older, offering conversations with a trained peer specialist to encourage and foster recovery, move toward wellness and reconnect with community.

Additional Links:

For youth, families and caregivers:

For help coping with a traumatic event:

For those affected by substance use:


Maine residents in recovery can connect with a local liaison through OPTIONS (Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach, Naloxone and Safety), which sends mobile response teams to connect people directly to recovery services and treatment and distribute naloxone, the lifesaving overdose medication.

The Telling Room