Medically Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on August 21, 2024
Written by Alison SherwoodYou can call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, live support if you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide or any other kind of mental or emotional distress.
The Lifeline has been around since 2005 at (800) 273-8255 (TALK), and you can still reach it any time at that number. The 988 number, which debuted in July 2022, just makes it easier to remember and dial.
The 988 Lifeline has received more than 23 million calls from people in distress seeking support since its founding. That includes nearly 10.8 million calls, chats, and texts to 988 since July 2022.
If you call 988, you’ll first hear a greeting message that will give you options to connect to the Veterans Crisis Line, access help in Spanish, or remain on the line while your call is routed to your local Lifeline network crisis center. This is based on your area code.
If your local crisis center is unable to answer, your call will go to another Lifeline center. More than 200 independent, locally owned and operated crisis centers are part of the Lifeline network, and there are plans to expand and improve the network.
Once your call is routed, a trained counselor will answer the phone. They will listen, provide support, and share resources if needed. Their main goal is to support you in your moment of distress.
If they feel you are in danger, the counselor may discuss connecting you to local emergency services like 911, but first they will do everything they can to help you with a less invasive plan to keep you safe. Fewer than 2% of Lifeline calls involve local emergency services, and more than half of those are with the caller’s consent.
If you prefer to chat with a counselor on a computer, go to 988lifeline.org/chat . The Lifeline added Spanish-language text and chat services in 2023.
Before you begin the chat, you’ll be asked to fill out a quick survey to share a little bit about yourself, your main struggle, and how you’re feeling. This will help your counselor best support you from the start of your conversation. You’ll see a wait-time message while you wait for a crisis counselor to join your chat.
A counselor will answer your chat as soon as one is available. They will ask you questions about your safety, feelings, social situation, and if you have any thoughts of suicide. If needed, the chat counselor will work with you to create a safety plan or contact local emergency services.
If there is a long wait to chat with someone, you’ll get a message to let you know. While you wait, you can check out online resources from the Lifeline, which are linked on the chat webpage, or call 988 to speak with someone right away.
Yo u can also text 988 from your cell phone. A counselor from a Lifeline crisis center will respond. They may or may not be local.
A videophone option is available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
No matter how you access 988, the goal is to help ease your stress and give you tools to make healthy choices.
In addition to suicide prevention, 988 is a resource for people who are going through a mental health or emotional crisis, and for anyone worried about a loved one who may need support.
Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can use the service.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website
"Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can use the service," the Lifeline's website states. "The crisis counselors are there to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing."
Any time you reach out to 988, your calls, texts and chats are confidential. This means that your information won't be shared without your consent unless your or someone else’s safety is in immediate danger.
Your chats with 988 are secured with the same data protection standards that major financial institutions use. Anything you type to a counselor is encrypted from your computer to theirs.
You do n’t need to provide any personal information in order to use 988. Anytime someone asks you for personal data, it will only be used to connect you to ongoing support or to help Lifeline improve its services. Your information will never be sold.
The U.S. government funds 988, making it free for anyone to use. Your phone company may charge you standard rates for texts and calls.
In the first two years since the Lifeline launched 988 it has received more than 10 million calls, texts, and online chats. That’s up by 80% since May 2022, before the transition to 988. The number of calls rose in all states since 988 launched.
The federal government put nearly $1 billion into strengthening and expanding the Lifeline network during the transition to 988. Most of the money went to states and territories to improve their local response as calls and messages increased.
The nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation analyzed the Lifeline’s data and found that since 988 debuted, overall response improved with more calls, texts, and chats being answered and people waiting less time for a response.
Overall answer rates rose from 70% in May 2022 to 89% in May 2024. The national average wait time dropped from 2 minutes and 20 seconds before 988 launched to 1 minute and 31 seconds in 2024. That’s “somewhat lower” than the 93% answer rate in 2023 and 35 seconds longer than in 2023, according to KFF’s report, citing the continued increase in people contacting 988.
