988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Free 24/7 Crisis Counseling
Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support for people in emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or other urgent mental health emergencies through 988 phone, text, and chat options with national routing.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Free 24/7 Crisis Counseling
Overview
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free national crisis support service for people in the United States and U.S. territories who are dealing with suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, substance use crisis, panic, grief, relationship stress, trauma reactions, or concern about someone else. It is not a grant, cash benefit, therapy program, insurance plan, or application-based award. The value of this opportunity is immediate access to trained crisis support by phone, text, or online chat, 24 hours a day.
Use 988 when the situation feels urgent, unsafe, or too heavy to manage alone. You do not have to prove that you are “suicidal enough” to contact the Lifeline. The official 988 materials describe the service as available for suicide, mental health, and substance use crisis support, and they also say people can contact 988 if they are worried about a loved one. A normal reason to use it is: “I am not sure I can get through the next hour safely, and I need another person to help me make a plan.”
This page explains how to use 988 as a practical public benefit. It focuses on what the service offers, who should use it, how to reach the right channel, what to prepare, what to expect during the conversation, and when to use emergency services instead.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A national suicide, mental health, and crisis support line reached through 988 |
| Is it money? | No. It is a free crisis counseling and routing service, not a cash payment |
| Cost | Free to use; normal phone or data charges may still depend on your carrier or plan |
| Availability | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year |
| Main ways to use it | Call 988, text 988, or use chat through the official 988 Lifeline website |
| Who can use it? | People in crisis, people in emotional distress, and people worried about someone else |
| Location | United States and U.S. territories |
| Insurance required? | No insurance application is required to contact 988 |
| Income requirement? | No income screen is required to contact 988 |
| Deadline | None. Access is rolling and immediate |
| Best official starting page | 988 Get Help |
What the Lifeline offers
The core service is real-time crisis support from a trained counselor. The counselor’s job is to help reduce immediate danger, understand what is happening, support the person in distress, and identify next steps that fit the situation. The conversation may include safety planning, calming and grounding steps, help thinking through who can be nearby, and referrals to local or specialized resources when appropriate.
For many people, the most useful part is not a long explanation of mental health treatment. It is having another person stay with them through the crisis long enough to make the next few minutes safer. A 988 conversation can help you decide whether to move away from a harmful object, ask someone to sit with you, avoid driving while overwhelmed, pause a conflict, contact a trusted person, or connect to local care.
988 is also useful for third-party callers. If you are a parent, partner, roommate, friend, coworker, teacher, clergy member, or neighbor who is worried about someone else, you can contact 988 for guidance. You can explain what you are seeing and ask how to talk with the person, how to reduce immediate risk, and when the situation calls for emergency help.
The service may help connect a person to local crisis resources or follow-up options, but it is not the same as enrolling in ongoing therapy. It is better understood as a crisis doorway: you use it when you need immediate support, and then you may use the plan from that contact to reach longer-term care.
Who should use 988
988 is a strong fit when there is immediate emotional risk or a real possibility that the situation could become unsafe. That includes suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm, feeling unable to stay safe, panic that will not settle, emotional distress after violence or abuse, grief that feels unmanageable, substance use crisis, a frightening mental health episode, or fear that someone else may harm themselves.
You should also use it when the crisis is serious but hard to describe. Many people delay because they cannot explain what is happening clearly. That is not required. You can start with a plain sentence such as, “I feel like I might hurt myself,” “I am scared of what I may do tonight,” “I am having a mental health crisis,” or “I am worried about my friend and do not know what to do.”
988 can also be appropriate before the crisis reaches the point of immediate danger. If you can feel yourself getting closer to unsafe decisions, calling or texting earlier is usually better than waiting until you are out of options. The service is meant for emotional distress, not only for the final stage of a suicide emergency.
When 988 is not enough by itself
If there is immediate danger, use emergency services too. For example, call 911 or local emergency services if someone has already taken action to harm themselves, has a weapon and is about to use it, cannot be kept physically safe, needs urgent medical care, is unconscious, is having a life-threatening overdose, or is at immediate risk of violence. 988 can provide crisis support and may help coordinate next steps, but it does not replace emergency medical response.
988 is also not the best place for routine administrative questions, non-urgent medication refills, ordinary appointment scheduling, billing disputes, or long-term case management. If the need is not urgent, a primary care provider, therapist, local community mental health center, insurance member line, school counselor, employee assistance program, or county behavioral health office may be the better next contact.
That said, many situations sit in the middle. If you are unsure whether the situation is urgent enough for 988, it is reasonable to contact 988 and say that. A counselor can help sort out whether the need is crisis support, emergency help, or a less urgent referral.
Eligibility and access
There is no competitive application, award cycle, income test, essay, or documentation packet. A person accesses the service by contacting 988 through an available channel. Based on the official Lifeline materials, the service is open to people experiencing suicide-related distress, mental health crisis, substance use crisis, emotional distress, and people seeking help for someone else.
You do not need to have a formal diagnosis. You do not need to know whether the issue is depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, psychosis, grief, or something else. You do not need insurance information ready. You do not need a referral from a doctor, school, employer, court, or social service agency. The practical eligibility question is: are you, or someone you are concerned about, in crisis or emotional distress and located where the 988 Lifeline is available?
Specialized routes are available for some groups. Veterans and service members can call 988 and press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. Spanish language support is available by calling 988 and pressing 2, and the official site also lists Spanish text and chat options. Deaf and hard-of-hearing access is available through dedicated 988 Lifeline access information, including options such as TTY and ASL videophone pathways listed by the Lifeline. For languages beyond English and Spanish, the official 988 information describes interpreter access for callers.
How to use 988
The application process is simply the contact process. Choose the channel you can use most safely in the moment.
| Channel | How to start | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Call 988 | You can speak or listen, need fast back-and-forth support, or want routing options by menu |
| Text | Text 988 | Speaking out loud is unsafe, you are in public, or writing feels easier than talking |
| Online chat | Use chat through the official 988 Lifeline website | You have internet access and prefer a browser-based conversation |
If you call, you may hear routing options before connecting to a counselor. If you are a veteran or service member, press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. If you need Spanish, press 2. Follow the prompts for the route that fits you. If you do not need a specialized option, stay on the line for general crisis support.
If you text or chat, expect a brief intake flow before the conversation begins. The official 988 pages describe steps such as accepting terms and answering a short survey before connecting with a counselor. Keep the first message simple. “I might hurt myself,” “I need help staying safe,” “I am in crisis,” or “I am worried about my sister” is enough to begin.
If one channel is delayed or does not work for you, try another channel. For example, if text is slow and you can safely call, call. If you cannot speak because someone nearby might hear you, text or chat may be safer.
What to say first
The most helpful opening is direct and factual. You do not need to tell the whole history immediately. Start with the safety issue and the time frame.
Useful first lines include:
- “I am thinking about suicide and I do not feel safe.”
- “I have a plan and I need help not acting on it.”
- “I am alone and scared I might hurt myself.”
- “I am intoxicated and worried I will do something dangerous.”
- “My child is talking about suicide and I need help right now.”
- “My friend sent goodbye messages and I do not know what to do.”
- “I am not suicidal, but I am in a crisis and cannot calm down.”
If there is a weapon, medication, rope, sharp object, vehicle, bridge, high place, overdose risk, or another immediate means of harm involved, say that early. If the person at risk is alone, say that. If emergency responders may be needed, say where the person is if you know it. Crisis counselors can help more effectively when the most urgent facts come first.
What to expect during the conversation
A 988 conversation is usually focused on immediate risk, emotional support, and next steps. The counselor may ask whether you are thinking about suicide, whether you have a plan, whether you have access to means, whether you have used substances, whether anyone is with you, where you are, and what has helped before. These questions can feel direct, but they are asked to understand risk and help you stay safe.
The counselor may help you slow down, breathe, move to a safer place, put distance between you and a harmful item, contact someone who can be with you, or identify one action that gets you through the next hour. You may also talk about what led to the crisis, but the first priority is usually immediate safety.
If you are contacting 988 about someone else, the counselor may ask what the person said, whether they have a plan, whether you know their location, whether they have access to lethal means, whether they are alone, and whether you can stay connected to them. You may receive coaching on what to say, what not to say, how to ask directly about suicide, and when to call emergency services.
Some contacts may end with a short plan and no outside referral. Others may include suggestions for local crisis services, mobile crisis options where available, outpatient care, community mental health resources, veteran support, substance use support, or emergency care. Availability of local services varies by area, so do not assume every community has the same crisis team or follow-up program.
Timeline and deadline
There is no application deadline. 988 is a rolling, always-open service. The timeline is based on immediate need:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Now | Call, text, or chat through the official 988 access point |
| First contact | Menu or short intake, depending on channel |
| During the conversation | Safety assessment, emotional support, and planning |
| End of contact | Next steps, referrals, or emergency coordination if needed |
| Later | Use the plan, contact local care, or reach back out to 988 if the crisis returns |
The right time to use 988 is before the situation becomes unmanageable. If you are already debating whether to contact them, that is usually enough reason to do it.
What to prepare
You can use 988 with no preparation, but a few details can make the contact more useful. If it is safe, write down:
- Your current location or the location of the person at risk.
- Whether you or the person at risk is alone.
- Whether there is immediate access to medication, weapons, vehicles, heights, or another means of harm.
- Any substance use, overdose risk, or urgent medical concern.
- The name and phone number of one person who could help.
- Any current therapist, doctor, case manager, school counselor, or veteran support contact.
- What has helped before, even a little.
Do not delay contacting 988 because you do not have these details. They are helpful, not required. If you can only type one sentence, type the sentence. If you can only dial, dial.
How to decide whether it is worth your time
Use 988 when the benefit of immediate support is greater than the cost of waiting. The main cost is a few minutes of discomfort, uncertainty, or fear about talking to someone. The potential benefit is that you are not handling a dangerous moment alone.
It is worth your time if any of these are true:
- You are making promises to yourself that you are not sure you can keep.
- You are hiding how bad things are because you do not want to alarm people.
- You have started thinking through methods, timing, or goodbye messages.
- You are using alcohol or drugs while distressed and your judgment is worse than usual.
- You are responsible for someone in crisis and do not know how to keep them safe.
- You are afraid that calling emergency services may be too much, but doing nothing feels unsafe.
It may be less useful as the only step if your need is long-term treatment access, housing, legal help, or benefits paperwork. In those cases, 988 can still help during an emotional crisis, but you will likely need another agency for the practical problem after the immediate danger passes.
Tips for a better 988 contact
Be blunt about safety. Many people soften the story because they are embarrassed, worried about being judged, or afraid of what might happen next. A crisis counselor needs the real version, not the polished version. Say if you have a plan. Say if you have access to means. Say if you are intoxicated. Say if you are alone. Say if you are afraid of yourself.
Ask for a concrete plan before ending the contact. A useful plan should answer: what will I do for the next 10 minutes, who will know I am at risk, what will I move away from, where will I be physically, and what will I do if the feeling gets worse? If the plan is vague, ask the counselor to help make it more specific.
Use the channel that keeps you safest. If a phone call would escalate conflict in your home, text or chat may be better. If texting is too slow for how dangerous the situation feels, call. If the person at risk is with you and you need coaching quietly, text may be useful. If the person has already acted or medical danger is present, use emergency services.
If you disconnect, reconnect. A dropped call, closed browser, or unfinished text exchange does not mean you used the service wrong. Start again and say, “I was just disconnected and I am still in crisis.”
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not wait for the crisis to become extreme before reaching out. 988 is there for emotional distress and crisis support, not only for the last possible minute.
Do not use vague language if safety is the concern. “I am stressed” may be true, but “I am thinking about killing myself tonight” gives the counselor the information needed to respond at the right level.
Do not end the conversation without knowing the next action. Before you hang up or close chat, ask, “What should I do immediately after this?” and “What should I do if I feel worse again?”
Do not assume the counselor can fix every underlying problem in one contact. A crisis line can help stabilize the moment and point toward resources, but it cannot by itself replace medical care, therapy, housing support, legal aid, or substance use treatment.
Do not hide danger because you are afraid of consequences. It is understandable to worry about emergency involvement, but a counselor can only help plan safely when they know the real risk.
FAQ
Is 988 only for people who are about to attempt suicide?
No. 988 is for suicide crisis, mental health crisis, substance use crisis, emotional distress, and concern about someone else. You can contact the Lifeline before the situation reaches immediate physical danger.
Is there an application?
No. There is no application form, award review, or enrollment process. The way to access the service is to call, text, or chat.
Is it free?
The crisis service is free. Depending on your phone or internet plan, normal carrier, data, or device-related costs may still apply. You do not need to pay a Lifeline fee or provide insurance information to start a crisis contact.
Can I contact 988 for someone else?
Yes. You can contact 988 if you are worried about another person. Be ready to share what the person said or did, whether they are alone, whether they have access to means, and whether you know their location.
Will emergency services be sent automatically?
Not every 988 contact results in emergency response. The purpose is crisis support, de-escalation, and safety planning. If there is imminent danger or a person cannot be kept safe, emergency coordination may be part of the response.
What if I need Spanish?
Call 988 and press 2 for Spanish. The official 988 site also lists Spanish text and chat access options.
What if I am a veteran or service member?
Call 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans can also use Veterans Crisis Line text and chat options listed by the official veteran crisis service.
What if I am Deaf or hard of hearing?
Use the official 988 Lifeline Deaf and hard-of-hearing access information. The Lifeline lists options that include TTY and ASL videophone pathways, along with text-based access.
Can I use 988 more than once?
Yes. Crisis needs can return. If the plan from the first contact is not enough, or if a new crisis starts later, contact 988 again.
What should I do after using 988?
Follow the safety plan from the conversation. If the crisis is reduced but the underlying issue remains, contact a therapist, doctor, local community mental health center, school counselor, veteran support service, substance use treatment provider, or another appropriate local resource. If danger returns, contact 988 again or use emergency services.
Official links
- 988 Get Help
- What to expect when you contact 988
- 988 Frequently Asked Questions
- Veterans Crisis Line
- 988 Lifeline contact page
Next step
If this is about an immediate crisis, do not treat this page like paperwork to finish later. Call 988, text 988, or use the official 988 chat page now. If there is immediate physical danger or urgent medical need, call emergency services as well.