Dial or text 988 to reach the Crisis Lifeline, connecting you to a counselor to if you or someone you care about is having any type of mental health crisis, suicide concerns, or substance use-related crisis.

What Is 988?

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is the new name for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The new name reflects the Lifeline’s aim to serve people who are having any type of mental health crisis, suicide concerns, or substance use-related crisis. 988 is also available for those who are concerned that their loved one may need crisis support. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 and provides access to trained crisis counselors through call, text, and chat options. To reach counselors, you can dial 988 (the old 1-800-273-8255 number will also connect callers to the lifeline) or you can text 988. To chat online with counselors, visit https://988lifeline.org/chat/.

Common Concerns

A lot of people may feel reluctant to contact the lifeline due to concerns about first responders being dispatched, being hospitalized, or their location being tracked. First, Emergency Medical Services and police officers are not automatically dispatched when you call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The majority of people that contact the lifeline do not require additional services; less than 2% of Lifeline calls require connection to emergency services. Typically, emergency services are asked to intervene when there is a pressing safety or health issue, such as when there is a suicide attempt occurring. The goal of the Crisis Lifeline is to help stabilize people in the least restrictive way possible. In addition, most calls do not result in hospitalization; this only occurs when there is an imminent concern regarding health and safety. Lastly, the only information that the crisis counselor will have about your location will come from your area code (if you call or text) or your IP address (if you use the chat option). It is not required that you provide any personal or identifying information to receive services from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If the counselor asks you for additional information, it is to either to connect you to ongoing support or to evaluate 988 services.

988 vs. 211 vs. 911

988 is distinct from 911 in that it focuses on improving access to crisis services in relation to suicide and mental health-related crisis care needs. 911 is concerned with public safety purposes and offers Emergency Medical Services, firefighters, and police officers. 211 provides health and social service information and referrals while the 988 system aids individuals during times of crisis. Depending on each circumstance, 988 may collaborate with either 911 or 211 to ensure individuals are able to access the services that they need.

How Does Calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Help?

Suicide is the leading cause of death among people 10-34 years old. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or mental health-related crisis, you can save a life by reaching out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline helps thousands of individuals overcome crisis situations every day. The vast majority of people that chat, call, or text the Lifeline get the necessary support they need and do not require additional services during that distressing moment. The trained crisis counselors are able to help callers feel significantly less overwhelmed and less suicidal by reducing the intensity of the situation and refer the caller to local resources that can further support their well-being. Furthermore, Lifeline callers leave the call feeling more hopeful and stable.