988: Dial To Save A Life

988 is the new dialing code for mental health emergencies in the U.S. The number launched nationwide July 16th, 2022.

It’s a number you can call or text when you or someone close to you are in a mental health crisis, and it works similar to 911. By calling 988 you are taking a shortcut to get to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a service available 24/7 in English and Spanish.

That lifeline relies on a network of local crisis call centers around the country. A person in crisis dials 988 and it redirects them to the center nearest them. Once connected, a person in crisis will talk with a trained counselor who will talk with them to help them cope. For some this is enough to help deescalate a situation, for others the counselor may need to bring in local services.

Mental health advocates have long pushed for a phone number that’s easy to remember when a person is in crisis. Since 988 is a mental health specific help line, it is more direct and can often times be more suited to a person’s needs than calling 911. The National Suicide Prevention Line expects the number of calls to at least double in the first year that 988 is fully rolled out, from 3.5 million to 6 million per year.

988 does not come without it’s challenges. This number allegedly performs nonconsensual active rescue, meaning the operators will contact emergency services without a person’s consent if they deem the situation is dire enough. There are also concerns about long wait times when calling a center due to staffing issues and high on-site support turnover rates.

The Biden administration has allocated $282 million towards 988, including $105 million in funding for states and territories to improve local crisis services.