What to expect when you contact

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.

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).

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.

No. 988 only uses your phone number to make sure you are connected with local crisis workers near you, and 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 laws protect any personal information you give us. We do not share information about you with family members, law enforcement, immigration, or anyone else.

There are plans for 988 geo routing in the future. This is where we will use your location instead of your phone number to connect you to a local crisis worker. We won't be able to see your exact location. It will just tell us which crisis center you are near, so we can connect you with them.

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.

Yes. Press 2 for Spanish. 988 crisis workers will get an interpreter to join the call for all other languages. You can also chat with 988 crisis workers online.

No. 988 is free. We can also help you find a provider in the community who can work with you for services related to mental health and substance use.

No. 988 is confidential. You don't need identification or documentation to use 988. The crisis worker will ask for your name because it helps them get to know you and help you. But you don't have to give your real name if you don't want to.

No. Anyone can call or text 988 for help. The crisis worker will ask for your name when you call because it helps them get to know you and help you. But you don't have to give your real name if you don't want to.

Yes. Press 3 to talk to a crisis worker who focuses on helping LGBTQ+ communities.

No. 988 is confidential. The crisis worker will ask for your name because it helps them get to know you and help you. But you don't have to give your real name if you don't want to.

Yes. You can go to your normal medical provider for help, medications, referral to a specialist, or psych admission.

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.

988 crisis workers are experts at providing help and support in the least restrictive setting possible. Most people say they feel more hopeful after calling or texting 988 and have a plan for what to do next , and don't need any additional immediate intervention.

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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.