Are all 988 calls handled in the State of Georgia by Georgia GCAL?
The majority of calls to 988 from Georgia area codes are handled by the GCAL Call Centers in Georgia. However, some calls are routed to other call centers outside Georgia due to the following reasons:
Area Code Not in Georgia: All calls are routed by Vibrant, the manager of 988 routing, to call centers in the region matching the caller's geo routing and area code. For more information on advanced routing please visit FAQs About Privacy, Call Routing, and Network Functioning at SAMHSA.gov.
Veterans: Callers pressing Option "1" are routed to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is managed by responders, many of whom are Veterans, familiar with Veterans' challenges. The Veterans Crisis Line includes an online chat and text service with 500 responders in three call center locations. They can refer Veterans to local suicide prevention coordinators (SPCs) at VA medical centers across the country for further counseling and services.
Spanish Language: For Spanish-speaking crisis counselors, callers can dial 988 and press "2," text AYUDA to 988, or chat with a counselor online. These calls are handled by SAMHSA's Spanish Language providers.
LGBTQI+ and LGBTQI+ Youth: Callers can text "PRIDE" to 988 or press "3" to reach an LGBTQI+ affirming counselor through The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people. The Trevor Project is supported by nearly $30 million in federal funding to enhance training and provide specialized services through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for marginalized youth.
2-Minute Limit: If the call isn’t picked up from the queue within 2 minutes, the call may be routed to a backup call center out of state. While we try to answer all calls in 2 minutes, we cannot always achieve this.
