FAQs - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 helpline provides immediate emotional and mental health support from trained crisis
workers. 988 is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the
year, even holidays. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number
to get help. Call or text 988 anytime if you need to talk to someone or are worried about someone.
You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online.

Everyone. 988 helps people deal with as many different types of situations as you
can think of—from everyday challenges to serious crisis situations. Calling or texting 988 can be one of the best ways to get help in a crisis. But 988 isn't just for people in crisis situations.

In fact, we hope you call or text 988 before you or someone you're worried about
gets to the point where things are serious. The earlier you reach out for help, the easier it often is to work through the challenges you're up against. It's free and confidential. We're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, even holidays. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

People call or text 988 for lots of different reasons. There is no wrong reason to call.

Problems in relationships, work, or school.
Feeling lonely.
Your child is struggling.
Concerns about money.
Stress.
Don't want to talk to your family or friends about how you're feeling.
Thoughts of suicide.
Feeling numb inside and don't seem to care about anything anymore.
Worried about someone else.
Feeling like you're doing your best, but life isn't going as planned.
Having a hard time making friends.
Feeling like you aren't able to go about daily tasks (like caring for your personal hygiene or
changing your clothes).
Isolating yourself from loved ones, coworkers, classmates, and others
Sudden mood swings, such as suddenly happy or calm after feeling sad or depressed.
Can't figure out what to do next in a situation.
Loss or grief.
Child or teenager won't calm down.
LGBTQ-related challenges.
Depression or anxiety.
Emotional or mental health challenges.
Drug or alcohol problems.
Family issues.
Having thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else.

Your call or text is answered by a trained crisis worker.
Trained crisis workers in Utah answer your call or text as quickly as possible. However, sometimes
it takes a few minutes to get you to the best person to help. Don't hang up!

988 uses the area code of the phone number you call or text from to transfer you to a trained
crisis worker. You'll talk to someone local right away if your phone number starts with a Utah
area code (801, 435, or 385). But you'll need to tell the person who answers the 988 line that
you're in Utah if your phone number is from another state, so they can transfer you to someone in
Utah.

Don't hang up if someone doesn't answer right away. Your call is routed to the next available 988
center if someone local doesn't answer within 3 minutes. Someone will answer the
phone to help you get through this.

Press 1 for veterans.

Press 2 if you want to speak to someone in Spanish.

Press 3 for LGBTQ support services.

It will send you to the first available crisis worker if you don't choose any of the options
listed above.

You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online.

Depending on your situation, a crisis worker may recommend the two of you work together to create a safety or crisis response plan. This is a helpful tool to use if you’re struggling or have another challenging time. This is your plan, not something the crisis worker tells you to do. They only help you create it. Your safety or crisis response plan includes step-by-step instructions to help keep you safe and connect with people and resources that you feel will help you best. Studies show safety and crisis response plans are helpful and make a significant difference for the people who have used them.

Call or text 988 whenever you need someone to talk to or are worried about someone, no matter the situation. Our trained crisis workers help people through everything from everyday challenges to serious crisis situations.

Sometimes people don't want to call because they think their problems or situation aren't serious
enough, and worry about tying up the phone lines for those who may have more immediate needs.

Don't ever worry about that. Calls are routed to the next available 988 center,
so there is always an expert available to help. You don't need to wait until things get worse.
Call or text today if you need to talk to someone or are worried about someone. You can also chat
with 988 crisis workers online

Call 988 if you're not sure where to start or who to call first. 988 can help you figure out what resources might be best for your situation and if 911 or 211 is a better help.

Both 911 and 988 provide immediate help to people in crisis situations. However, they're different in a few ways. The biggest difference is how services are delivered. 911 sends emergency responders to you right away (like EMS, fire, or police). 988 gets you in touch with a trained crisis worker right away, but may not need to send anyone to you. A trained crisis worker will help you figure out what kind of help or services would be best for what you're dealing with.

911 is the number you should call if you or someone else is in physical danger, there is a life-threatening situation or a weapon, if you're worried someone has overdosed, or you need immediate help in an emergency. The 911 dispatcher will send people to help you right away (like EMS, fire, or police) and may stay on the phone to provide support while you wait for emergency responders to arrive.

988 is the number you should call or text when you or someone else needs help and support from mental health professionals. When you call 988 you always have someone to talk to, someone to help you, and somewhere safe to go. It's really hard to make decisions in a crisis. Crisis workers at 988 are trained to help you make decisions about what type of care you might need.

211 is a non-emergency number for finding community resources like food banks or housing. Trained workers will help you find support to meet your basic needs when in a crisis or difficult circumstance. They can also transfer you to 988 if you need more mental health support and help than they are trained to provide.

988 is staffed with caring, trained crisis workers who help people through everything from everyday challenges to serious crisis situations. If talking on the phone or texting isn't enough, they're trained to help you figure out if you need someone to come help keep you safe or somewhere safe to go, and make a plan for what to do next. We have teams of trained mental health professionals who can come meet with you for free, or safe places you can go to get help (called receiving centers).

No. 988 is safe and confidential. HIPAA privacy laws protect any personal information you give us. We do not share information about you with family members, law enforcement, immigration, or anyone else. Crisis workers will call 911 if someone is in immediate danger. Our crisis workers at 988 are experts at providing help and support to people in crisis. That means it is rare that a trained crisis worker needs to call emergency services like 911 for help.

We keep your information on file in case you need to call again in the future. This helps crisis workers know the best way to help you. We do not share information about you with family members, law enforcement, immigration, or anyone else. 988 is safe and confidential. HIPAA privacy laws protect any personal information you give us.

HIPAA privacy laws protect the personal information you give 988. It's treated the same as if it was your medical record. Staff must login with their employee ID and the only people who have access to your personal information are those involved in providing you services or care. We do not share information about you with family members, law enforcement, immigration, or anyone else. The exception to this is if someone threatens to harm themselves or others, or discloses abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.

We use information from recorded calls to train and improve our crisis response services and keep your information on file in case you need to call again in the future. This helps crisis workers know the best way to help you. 988 is safe and confidential. HIPAA privacy laws protect any personal information you give us. We do not share information about you with family members, law enforcement, immigration, or anyone else.

Recently, 988 adopted georouting tools that help callers in Utah be automatically connected to crisis workers in the state even if they do not have a Utah area code. This will make it easier for callers to receive helpful information about resources in the area. The georouting tools do not give crisis workers or anyone else a precise location. The system maintains your privacy by simply recognizing you are in Utah and routing the call to a local crisis worker.

Our crisis workers at 988 are experts at providing help and support to people in crisis. That means it is rare that we need to call emergency services like 911 for help. Our goal is to make sure you get the right help at the right time.

Sometimes people don't ask for help because they worry police or law enforcement will be called, and worry they or someone else will go to jail. This concern should not be the reason you don't get help. Experts throughout the state (including police and law enforcement) are working very hard to make sure people get the services they need, instead of ending up in jail. It is rare for police or law enforcement to become involved when someone calls or texts
988.

Crisis intervention teams
Some law enforcement officers receive special training through the crisis intervention team
(CIT) program. They are trained to respond to a mental health or behavioral health crisis and help
people find resources in their community. Not all law enforcement officers are trained in the CIT
program and CIT officers may not be available everywhere in the state.

No. Our goal is to do everything we can to keep you and your kids safe. But we will make sure the right people come to help if safety is an issue. Our crisis workers at 988 are experts at providing help and support to people in crisis. That means it is rare that a trained crisis worker needs to call emergency services like 911 for help.

988 may be able to help you find ongoing help and support. A 988 crisis worker can explain costs for services and how to access these through insurance, etc. Many different types of medical providers can also provide mental health services. Talking to your regular care provider is part of everyone's safety plan. You can go to your normal medical provider for help, medications, referral to a specialist, or psych admission.

You may not always know when someone is thinking of suicide. Reaching out to them when you feel something is “off” can make a difference and even save their life. You can always call or text 988 for help if you're worried about someone and not sure what to do.

People who are considering suicide may show signs that they are thinking about or planning to attempt suicide. These are known as warning signs of suicide.

Things someone may say or think:

Talking or thinking about wanting to die, “killing themselves,” or suicide
Mentioning ways to end their life or making specific plans to do so
Thinking or talking about feeling empty, alone, or “over it”
Saying people in their life would be better off without them

Things someone may do:

Say goodbye to friends and family
Sleep less—or a lot more—than usual
Eat much less—or a lot more—than usual
Withdraw from people or social activities
Stop taking care of their personal hygiene
Increase their use of alcohol or drugs
Act recklessly
Give away prized possessions
Have big changes in their usual behavior

Ways someone may feel:

Extremely anxious, agitated, irritable, or angry
Persistently sad or depressed
Up and down in their moods
Hopeless, trapped, or without purpose
Like a burden to others
Numb or not interested in the parts of life they usually enjoy

Any of these signs can mean someone is considering suicide or that they are experiencing serious
emotional distress and need support right away. It is also possible that someone is thinking about
suicide and not showing any of these signs.

The bottom line is: If you're worried about yourself or a friend, trust that instinct and call or
text 988 for help. You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online.

Someone to talk to.

Talking to someone actually helps a lot in most situations. Many studies show people feel
more hopeful and less depressed, less overwhelmed, and less suicidal after they talk to a
988 crisis worker. Or if you want to talk to someone with similar experiences, there are
options for that too.

988 helpline

Call or text 988 when you or someone else is struggling, could use some extra help figuring
out how to solve a problem, or just need someone to talk to. Our caring, trained crisis
workers can help you calm down, figure out what to do next, and find out which resources
might work best for you. They’ll help you create a plan to stay safe and get connected with
people and resources to help you get through the problems you’re facing.

You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online

Warm line

The Warm Line is answered by people in recovery from a mental health or substance use
problem and have received training to help support others. They’re sometimes called a certified peer support specialist. This resource works best when you just need someone to
talk to about your struggles, but may not need any other help right now. The Utah Warm
Line is available every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Call 1-833-SPEAKUT or 801-587-1055.

SafeUT

SafeUT is an app that provides real-time help on anything from relationship problems,
stress with work or school, to thoughts of suicide or self-harm. You can chat with a licensed
counselor in Utah for support. Schools can also enroll in SafeUT which lets students report
anonymous tips if they are worried about themselves, another student, or something like a
safety threat. The app is free and available for iPhone and Android devices. SafeUT is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

There are different apps for different groups of people.

SafeUT app is for students, parents, and educators.
SafeUT Frontline is for first responders and frontline healthcare workers.
SafeUTNG is for members of the Utah National Guard and their families.

Someone to help you

Sometimes talking on the phone or texting isn’t enough. You might need someone to meet
with you to figure things out or help calm a situation down. When you call or text 988, our
trained crisis workers can help you figure out if you need someone to come help keep you
safe, and help you make a plan for what to do next. They may recommend one of our
mobile crisis outreach teams come meet with you if you need it.

Mobile crisis outreach teams

Mobile crisis outreach teams (also called MCOTs) provide free face-to-face help for anyone
having an emotional or behavioral health challenge. Trained crisis workers will meet you
wherever you are—at home, work, school, or anywhere in your community. They can help
assess the situation, calm you down, and figure out what will keep you and others safe.
Mobile crisis outreach teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
They come in an unmarked vehicle to protect your privacy. Call 988 to get help from a
mobile crisis outreach team. These services are free to everyone in Utah, no matter where
you live. You don’t need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get
help.

We can send a specially trained mobile crisis outreach team if the situation or concern
involves a child. These teams have more experience and training to help kids and parents
going through a challenging situation.

Mobile crisis outreach teams or MCOTs are teams of mental and behavioral health professionals, peer support specialists, and certified crisis workers specially trained to help people in a crisis. They can also bring in psychiatrists or other advanced skilled healthcare providers to help if needed.

In Utah, these teams are usually staffed by professionals at a local mental health authority. These agencies provide mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services in their communities. There are 13 local mental health authorities in Utah, each provides services to a specific county or counties. You can find the local mental health and local substance use authority for your county here.

Our crisis workers at 988 are experts at providing help and support to people in crisis. That means it is rare that a trained crisis worker needs to call emergency services like 911 for help. Our goal is to make sure you get the right help at the right time.

Sometimes people don’t ask for help because they worry police or law enforcement will be called, and worry they or someone else will go to jail. We do everything we can to keep you safe and help you work through the situation over the phone, text, or chat. If that isn’t enough, we can send a mobile crisis outreach team to help. We only work with law enforcement when there’s nothing else we can do to keep you or others safe. It is rare for police or law enforcement to become involved when someone calls 988. This year, only 1.5% of calls to 988 in Utah needed help from law enforcement.

Youth stabilization services can be helpful if your child:

Threatens to hurt themself or others
Is verbally or physically aggressive
Uses substances
Destroys or steals property
Is withdrawn from friends or peers
Has difficulty in school
Experiences depression or anxiety
Bullies or is bullied
Often runs away
Has severe changes in mood
Is experiencing grief or loss
Self-harms (cutting, suicide attempts)
May have experienced or witnessed trauma

The services are free, but may not be available in every county. These services can be a good option if you can’t find a family therapist right away. A trained mental health professional will visit your family 2 or 3 times each week for 6 to 8 weeks. We can also do visits virtually. You don’t need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

Youth stabilization services can help your family:

Learn how to communicate and interact with each other in a more healthy way.
Create plans to prepare for and prevent future challenges.
Find resources and support.

Sometimes, the local mental health authority or medical professional may bill Medicaid or your health insurance company for these services. However, you will never receive a bill for these services. You will never be asked to pay anything for using youth stabilization services. You don’t need to be a current patient or have certain types of insurance to receive these services.

When a mobile crisis outreach team comes to help your child, they will also give you the phone number for your local youth stabilization services to help your family for the next several weeks. However, they don’t set up the appointment for you. You will need to call to set up the appointment with youth stabilization services.

You can get these services at your home 2 to 3 times a week, for 6 to 8 weeks. Virtual appointments are also available. You don’t need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

Most youth stabilization services are provided by trained professionals from your local mental health and substance use authority. However, in some counties these services are provided by local medical professionals. They will come to your home 2 to 3 times a week, for 6 to 8 weeks. Virtual appointments are also available. You don’t need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

You don’t need to be a current patient or have certain types of insurance to receive these services if they are provided by a local medical professional or health system, like Intermountain Health.

Yes. There are many providers throughout the state who can continue to help your family. However, there is a cost for these services. The youth stabilization team working with you can help you find the right care for your family. You can also call your health insurance company to find out which providers in your area your insurance covers. Your local mental health and substance use authority can continue to provide services if you have Medicaid, don’t have health insurance, or can’t afford the cost of another provider.

988 may be able to help you find ongoing help and support. A 988 crisis worker can explain costs for services and how to access these through insurance, etc. Many different types of medical providers can also provide mental health services. Talking to your regular care provider is part of everyone's safety plan. You can go to your normal medical provider for help, medications, referral to a specialist, or psych admission.

Sometimes you or someone you’re worried about need a safe place to go. When you call or
text 988, we can refer you to a crisis center, which is a safe place to get help. They’re always
open, and staffed by trained professionals who can help with emotional, mental health, or
substance use problems.

Crisis centers (for adults only)

Crisis centers (sometimes called receiving centers) are a safe place you or someone you’re
worried about can go to calm down and get professional help. You only stay at a crisis
center for one day (24 hours or less). Most crisis centers are designed to feel more like a
living room or home environment, and less like a hospital. At a crisis center you’ll also be
able to talk to people who have had similar experiences, and are there to listen and help.

Crisis centers in Utah:

McKay Dee Access Center (Ogden)
Davis Behavioral Health (Layton)
Wasatch Behavioral Health (Provo)
Kem & Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center (Salt Lake City)
Southwest Behavioral Health (Hurricane)
Four Corners Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Price)
Cache County—should open sometime in 2025

Crisis centers are a good option when you need immediate help with challenges related to emotional or mental health, or substance use, but don’t need to be hospitalized. Crisis centers are staffed by trained experts like psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, and peer support specialists. You only stay at a crisis center for one day (24 hours or less). Staff will help you find other resources for ongoing care before you leave. Most crisis centers are designed to feel more like a living room or home environment, and less like a hospital. At a crisis center you’ll also be able to talk to people with similar experiences, who are there to listen and help.

Emergency room visits can be expensive, have long wait times, and they see patients with many different needs. That means emergency rooms may need to see patients who have other medical needs, like accidents or serious medical conditions before they see patients with needs related to emotional, mental health, or substance use. Emergency rooms also may not have mental health professionals working all the time.

It’s hard to make decisions in a crisis. The 988 hotline, mobile crisis outreach teams, and crisis centers are all great options to help when you’re struggling. However, there are many reasons they may not be the right choice, depending on the situation. Sometimes you may need to call 911 or go to the emergency room. Here are a few examples of times when you or someone you’re worried about should call 911 or go to the emergency room (this should not be considered a complete list):

Need immediate help in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
Don’t live close enough to a crisis center, or a mobile crisis outreach team isn’t able to get there in time.
Not safe to yourself or others.
Worried someone has overdosed.

Yes. However, crisis centers for youth are a different service from those for adults and are limited in the number of youth they can serve at a time. Most youth centers are part of a Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS) center. JJYS centers often have access to trained clinicians who provide stabilization services while the youth is there, but they are not staffed with psychiatric providers.

Crisis respite centers (sometimes called peer respite centers) are safe places you can go if you don’t need to be hospitalized but need to stay somewhere longer than a day, like at a crisis center. Respite centers are set up more like a home, with peer specialists who have had similar experiences to listen and offer support. It’s free and you don’t have to have proof of insurance or citizenship to go there. You can stay for up to 1 week at a crisis respite center. Right now, there’s only 1 crisis respite center in Utah located in Salt Lake County.

Frequently Asked Questions

988 general FAQs

Services available in Utah

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