— Any kind of emotional distress, including thoughts of suicide
— A mental health crisis
— A substance use related crisis
— You can also call 988 if you're worried about a friend or family member who might need help
What happens when you call 988?
— You're connected with a trained crisis counselor who can help figure out the situation over the phone
— If available in your area, they may be able to dispatch a mobile crisis team if needed (often a mental health clinician + peer specialist)
How do I reach 988?
— 988 is available in all 50 States and four US Territories (PR, GU, VI, AS) by...
- Dialing 988 from a landline or cellphone
- Texting 988
- Access via the web at 988lifeline.org
Is 988 free?
— 988 services are always free!
— However, if you're on a plan with limited minutes or texts, your standard phone rates may apply (Best to check with your carrier for specifics if you're on one of these plans)
Thanks for reading about 988 and please help spread the word about the #988Lifeline — help is just a call away!
Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere.
Tagging folks who may want to help spread the word on the #988Lifeline
5 reasons why the #988Lifeline will make a difference for kids— a quick🧵
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for kids starting at age 10. Horrifically, it's also in the top 10 causes of death for kids starting at age 5.
We need all the help we can get.
1) Texting
988 is available to anyone regardless of age, but a new feature super important for kids and teenagers is the ability to directly text 988—and they are using it.
In the large California sample below, 90% of individuals texting for help in a crisis were 18 or younger
2) Schools
988 & mobile crisis can respond to behavioral incidents at schools without police.
In CT, mobile crisis units partnered with schools to address the school-to-prison pipeline. Participating schools saw a decrease in school arrests of 40-100%