WRITTEN AND REVIEWED BY Shariq Refai, MD, MBA · UPDATED June 23, 2026 · ABOUT 8 MINUTES
I built this page so the routing is here when you need it. If you're reading it for yourself, you can stop reading at any point and make the call. If you're reading it for someone you care about, the same is true. Help isn't something you have to earn. It's something to use.
What 988 is.
988 is the national three digit number in the United States for any mental health crisis, including thoughts of suicide. It's free, confidential, and answered 24 hours a day. You don't have to be in immediate danger to call. You can call for yourself. You can call for someone you're worried about. The line has specialized routing for veterans (press 1), Spanish speakers (press 2), and LGBTQ+ youth and young adults (press 3). Text and chat options are available for people who can't or won't speak on the phone.
988 replaced the older 1-800-273-TALK number in 2022. It's coordinated by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and operated by a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers. Calls usually route to the nearest center based on your area code.
What happens when you call 988.
A trained counselor answers, usually within seconds. They'll ask for a first name (you can use any name) and a few questions about what's going on. They listen without judgment. They don't call the police unless there's an immediate identifiable threat to life that can't be addressed any other way, and most calls are handled entirely on the line.
Most calls end with the person feeling more grounded, a plan for the next few hours, and a referral to follow up care. The counselor stays on the line as long as you need. There's no time limit, and there's no script you have to follow. If the call ends and warning signs come back later, you can call again.
What going to the emergency department for mental health is like.
Triage happens at the front. Then a social worker or a mental health clinician on the psychiatric consult team evaluates you. They'll ask about the thoughts you're having, what's been going on, what makes you safer, what doesn't, and whether you've access to lethal means. They'll also check for medical issues that can present like or contribute to a mental health crisis (thyroid problems, infections, sleep deprivation, recent substance use). This is part of standard practice and it isn't an attempt to dismiss what you're experiencing.
Possible outcomes vary. Some visits end with going home with a written safety plan, a same week or next day follow up appointment, and updated medications. Some end with a short voluntary inpatient stay for stabilization. In a smaller share of situations, when someone is at acute risk and can't consent to care, an involuntary hold may be used. The criteria and the length of these holds are set by state law.
Either outcome is care, not punishment. Going to the emergency department for a mental health crisis is the same kind of action as going for chest pain. The system is built for both.
For someone helping a person in crisis.
If you're worried about someone, the most useful single thing you can do is ask directly. The research on this is consistent. Asking someone whether they're thinking about suicide doesn't put the thought in their head. What it does is open a door.
If they say yes, take it seriously. Don't try to talk them out of it. Don't promise to keep the conversation secret. Stay with them. Help them call 988, or take them to the emergency department. If lethal means are accessible (medications, firearms), limit access if you can do that safely.
If they say no but you're still worried, you can still call 988 yourself to talk it through with a counselor. The line is for the person at risk, and it's also for the person trying to help them.
Crisis lines and support.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
- Veterans Crisis Line 988 then press 1
- SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov findtreatment.gov
- The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386 (LGBTQ+ youth)
- Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860
- Postpartum Support International Helpline 1-800-944-4773
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
- International Association for Suicide Prevention iasp.info
- shrinkMD shrinkmd.com (telepsychiatry)
When things are quieter, the safety plan template is a place to put the warning signs, the coping steps, and the people on your call list down on paper so they're ready before you need them.