The FCC has established 988 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. This new number went into effect on July 16, 2022. People who call or text 988 will be connected to a trained counselor at a crisis center close to them. If a local crisis center is too busy to respond right away, the call is routed to one of 16 backup centers around the country. Veterans and Service members can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing.
The U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34. From April 2020 to 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses. Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most Lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful.
If you feel suicidal or are worried about someone you know, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
