988: A 24/7 Hotline for Anyone Having Thoughts of Suicide, Mental Health, or Substance Use Crisis.
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress.
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
The Need for 988
Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and sadly, the pandemic only made a bad situation worse when it comes to mental health and wellness in America.
There are urgent realities driving the need for crisis service transformation across our country. Some statistics:
- In 2020 alone, the U.S. had one death by suicide about every 11 minutes;
- For people aged 10 – 34 years, suicide is a leading cause of death; and,
- From April 2020 to 2021, over 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses.
