SMS TERMS & CONDITIONS

 

The following Terms of Service apply to the SMS services provided by the NAMI Chicago Helpline.

Our Terms of Service may change. Any changes will become effective immediately. Each time you contact the NAMI Chicago Helpline via text or chat, you will be reminded of these terms. You are required to accept the Terms of Service to use these services.

WHAT IS THE NAMI CHICAGO HELPLINE HOW DOES IT WORK?

When you connect with the Helpline, the primary purpose of our team is to provide emotional support, information, and referrals to you.

  • You do not have to accept any referrals or resources offered to you by the Helpline.

  • There are some exceptions related to a person’s safety where we might intervene to promote safety and protect life.

  • You can accept or refuse any future support calls, texts or other follow-up offered by the Helpline.

The NAMI Chicago Helpline is not a mental healthcare treatment or provider. Your use of the Helpline does not create a legal confidential relationship. Examples of a legal confidential relationship include, but are not limited to, licensed doctor-patient or licensed therapist-patient. The Helpline is not a substitute for professional health care.

The NAMI Chicago Helpline provides support on an “as is” and “as available” basis. NAMI Chicago expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. This means we do not make any promises or guarantees about the Helpline services. For example, we do not guarantee that the Helpline will:

  • meet your requirements;

  • be timely, uninterrupted, or error-free; or

  • meet your expectations.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

You assume all risks for use of this service.

You also agree to:

  • Be respectful to the person supporting you. We understand that you may be experiencing strong emotions and you are allowed to be angry, sad, and every other feeling. Team members are here to support you and give you space to have varied emotions. They also deserve and expect to be treated with respect in return.

  • Not spam the lines. This means generating multiple calls, chats, or texts with the intent to increase wait times or target specific centers.

  • Not intentionally harass counselors or anyone else connected to NAMI Chicago.

  • Not attempt to make in-real-life connections with personnel or other people connected to them (such as friends or relatives). This means you will not attempt to find someone’s social media accounts, physical address, personal phone numbers, or other similar identifying information.

  • Not send sexually explicit content via text, chat, or other private accounts.

  • Not threaten the person you are connected with, the contact center, NAMI Chicago, or anyone else connected to the Helpline. Threats of violence are taken seriously and may result in police being contacted.

  • Not engage in “swatting” behavior. Swatting is the intentional sharing of another person’s address in an attempt to send police to their location, despite them not being at risk of harm to themselves or others.

  • Not share our team's personal information on public platforms, such as social media. This includes their face, full name, location, workplace, etc. that might make it easier for others to find them.

  • Not videotape or record conversations and share them on public platforms and/or social media.

NAMI Chicago team members will ask you to stop the above behaviors and they have the right to disconnect from you if the behaviors continue. Some of the above behaviors are crimes depending on your location or the location of the counselor. Vibrant takes these offenses seriously. If they continue after you’re asked to stop, Vibrant may contact police.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Please see our Data Privacy Notice for specific information regarding personal information, security, and data.

NAMI Chicago is not responsible for decisions you may make while contacting the Helpline. We are also not responsible for any decisions you make after contacting the Helpline such as decisions about seeking professional care. This also includes decisions to change or stop treatments you are currently receiving.

NAMI Chicago is not liable for actions taken (or not taken) by you or a third party. You agree to indemnify us and hold us harmless for damages arising out of your use of the Helpline. Without limiting the above, in no event is NAMI Chicago liable for any special, incidental, consequential, or indirect damages. This means NAMI Chicago is not responsible for any costs, financial or otherwise, you may incur after contacting the Helpline.

COSTS TO YOU

NAMI Chicago does not charge anyone to contact the Helpline. You may, however, have some charges:

  • Your phone bill, depending on your phone plan. It is free to call or text the Helpline, but if you do not have unlimited calls and texts, you may see a charge from your mobile phone service provider.

  • Emergency services. If the Helpline contacts emergency services like 911 after your call, you may receive a bill. This could include charges for an ambulance, hospital stay, etc.

  • Outside referrals. If a team member connects you to a resource or referral outside NAMI Chicago and you use that service, you may receive a bill from that service. We recommend you ask about fees, insurance coverage options, etc. before using any services outside of the Helpline.

  • Team members must be open and honest with you about any charges they know about when offering referrals. The only exception to this policy is when emergency services are contacted due to imminent safety concerns.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND 911

We reserve the right to disclose personally identifiable information (PII) to authorities (such as 911) at our sole discretion and as required by law. Some examples of when we would disclose PII include, but are not limited to:

  • •person’s life is at imminent risk of death or serious injury;

  • a minor or elder is being abused (according to their state’s laws); or

  • a threat is made to the Helpline; office; or affiliated individual that we believe needs to be investigated.