988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health, emotional and/or substance use crisis, you can now call, text or chat 988.  Whether you're experiencing thoughts of suicide or any kind of emotional crisis, reaching out to 988 will connect you to a trained mental health professional who can provide compassionate, accessible care and support.  People who are worried about someone they love experiencing a crisis can also call, text or chat 988.

What happens with you reach out to 988?

When calling 988, callers first hear a greeting message while their call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center.  A trained crisis counselor will answer the phone, listen to the caller, understand how their problem is affecting them, provide support, and share resources if needed.  The Lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and translation in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.

Does the lifeline work?

According to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, "numerous studies have shown that most lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking to a lifeline crisis counselor."

How is 988 different from 911?

988 improves access to crisis services to meet our country’s growing suicide and mental health-related crisis care needs. 988 will provides easier access to the lifeline network and related crisis resources, which are distinct from the public safety purposes of 911 (where the focus is on dispatching Emergency Medical Services, fire and police as needed).

Learn more about this lifesaving crisis lifeline from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)