I saw on social media that 988 uses geolocation and that people can find me and come get me if I call, even without my consent – is this true?

No, this is not true. When you reach out to the 988 Lifeline, the crisis counselor will only know your phone number if you call, or your IP address if you chat. They do not have access to your precise location. In very rare situations, if there is an immediate risk to life, a 988 crisis counselor may contact a 911 dispatcher, who can then initiate a precise geolocation lookup with your Internet Service Provider or wireless carrier. This measure is only taken when absolutely necessary to save lives.

SAMHSA manages geo routing at the federal level, which improves call routing to regional call centers based on the caller’s general region. This method, managed by Vibrant, 988’s routing manager, will maintain the privacy of the caller’s exact location while ensuring they receive the support they need locally, with connections in their community. 

For more information on advanced routing please visit FAQs About Privacy, Call Routing, and Network Functioning at SAMHSA.gov.