A compassionate connection

When you call, text, or chat 988, you’ll be connected with a trained crisis counselor at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center or one of our partner centers. Counselors are available 24/7 to provide free, confidential support.

What happens when you call

  • Automated Greeting and Brief Questions
    When you call 988, you’ll first hear a short automated message. After that, you’ll be connected with a trained crisis counselor. They’ll ask a few quick questions to better understand your situation and ensure your safety.
  • Compassionate Listening
    Your counselor will take the time to listen without judgment. Whether you want to share a little or a lot, you set the pace.
  • Support, Safety Planning and Next Steps
    Together, you and your counselor will explore coping strategies, create a personalized safety plan if needed, and identify helpful resources. If appropriate, they may also help connect you with ongoing local care.

What happens when you text or chat

  • Automated Intro and Initial Questions
    When you text 988 or use the chat feature at 988lifeline.org, you’ll first receive an automated message to welcome you and ask a few quick questions. This helps your counselor understand your needs right away.
  • Real-Time Support
    Next, you’ll be connected with a live, trained counselor who will support you in real time through messaging. You can share at your own pace, and your counselor will listen without judgment.
  • Safety Planning and Resources
    If appropriate, your counselor may help you create a personalized safety plan and share resources that can support you beyond the conversation. Their goal is to help you feel safer and more supported.

Confidential and respectful support

Your privacy matters. Conversations are confidential, unless there’s an immediate risk to your safety or someone else’s. In those cases, counselors may involve emergency services to keep everyone safe.

After the call, chat, or text

Sometimes a counselor may follow up with you to check in, or they may share resources for continued support. The goal is always to help you feel safer, more supported, and less alone.

Why reach out

988 is here for anyone—whether you’re in emotional distress, worried about a loved one, or just need someone to talk to. Support is available in English and Spanish, with interpretation in more than 240 languages. Specialized support is also available for:

No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Help is just three numbers away—988.