Dear Community Partners,

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), and is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

While this is an exciting time to reimagine how we provide crisis services in the U.S., the full vision of a transformed crisis care system with 988 at its core will not be built overnight. Transformation of this scale will take time, and we must all work together to make it happen. It is important that we speak with one voice about 988 to ensure clear understanding about what it is and how it will work. Below are a list of resources created by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

• • • Visit the 988 Lifeline Crisis Center page to learn ways to support your local Lifeline network crisis center
    • Suicide Prevention by the Numbers - Learn about the importance and impact of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
    • Back to Basics: How Our Calls Are Routed - Learn about what happens when you call, text, or chat with the Lifeline
    • Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988 then Press 1) - If you’re a Veteran, Service Member or loved one, learn how 988 will affect the Veterans Crisis Line
    • Learn about the history of 988
    • Learn how Vibrant Emotional Health, the non-profit administrator of the Lifeline, has been supporting states’ implementation planning for 988 through grants