If you or someone else is in immediate danger or has a medical emergency in the United States, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or another mental-health-related crisis, call or text 988, or use the web chat at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock, and you can contact it for yourself or because you are worried about someone else.
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| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Immediate danger or a medical emergency in the U.S. | Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 911 is for emergency response; 988 is a crisis counseling service. |
| Suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental-health-related crisis in the U.S. | Call or text 988, or start a web chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach out for yourself or someone you care about. |
| You are outside the U.S. | Use your local emergency number for immediate danger or find a verified crisis service in your country. U.S. 988 is not a worldwide service; country-specific contacts are not established here. |
What happens when you contact 988?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline says a counselor will listen, ask about safety, offer support, and may share relevant resources. The service is intended for crisis support, not just for people who are certain they will act on suicidal thoughts.
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By phone
When you call, you hear options that include pressing 1 for Veterans Crisis Line support or 2 for Spanish-language support, or continuing to a local contact center. Once connected, a counselor introduces themself, asks whether you are safe, and listens to understand how the situation is affecting you. They may offer resources suited to your needs.
By text
Text 988 to reach the main service, or use AYUDA for Spanish-language support. The official guide describes a short survey and a connection or wait message before a counselor joins. For Veterans Crisis Line texting, send a message to 838255.
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By web chat
Go to 988lifeline.org and choose chat. You answer a few short questions and start the chat before connecting with a counselor.
Cost, confidentiality, and privacy
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline states, “Using the 988 Lifeline is free” and “When you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline, your conversation is confidential.” Confidential does not mean guaranteed anonymity: SAMHSA says a counselor may know a caller’s phone number or a chat user’s IP address, and you are not required to provide personal information to get support. In rare circumstances involving immediate risk to life, a counselor may contact a 911 dispatcher; the dispatcher may request precise geolocation from a wireless carrier or internet provider.
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Specialized U.S. support options
These selected services offer routes for particular needs; this is not a complete directory. For immediate danger or a medical emergency, use 911 rather than treating a specialized support line as emergency response.
- Veterans and active-duty military: Call 988 and press 1, use Veterans Crisis Line chat, or text 838255.
- Deaf or hard of hearing / TTY: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988. The Lifeline also provides information about Deaf and hard-of-hearing access.
- Pregnancy or after birth: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262) for maternal mental-health support.
- Distress related to a natural or human-caused disaster: Call or text SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. ASL videophone access is also listed.
- Violence or abuse support: CDC lists the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE, with text START to 88788; RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE; and the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Check each program’s official information for current access methods and hours.
Finding care and support after the crisis
If you need help locating ongoing mental-health or substance-use treatment, SAMHSA’s National Helpline offers referrals at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You can also text your five-digit ZIP code to 435748 or use FindTreatment.gov. For peer support, CDC lists NAMI at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), weekdays 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern; check current hours before calling. If food, housing, or another essential need is making things harder, CDC directs people to 211.
For information on crisis services and additional referral options, see CDC’s mental health resources, SAMHSA’s 988 information, and the 988 Lifeline’s What to Expect page. Phone routes, hours, and service procedures can change, so check the relevant official service page when possible.
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