How Does 988 Work?

 

Here’s what to expect:

  1. When calling 988, callers first hear a greeting message while their call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center (based on the caller’s area code).

  2. A trained crisis counselor will answer the phone, listen to the caller, understand how their problem is affecting them, provide support and share resources if needed.

  3. If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller will be automatically routed to a national backup crisis center. The Lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.

For more information on 988 you can also check out the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FAQs: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs