988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline

Starting on July 16, 2022, individuals can call, text, or chat 988 to reach The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (recently known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). This new three-digit dialing code is now active across the United States. This shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. When an individual contacts this number, they will be connected to a trained crisis response counselor that can support the individual with any behavioral or mental health need for themself or people looking for help for a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no cost to the caller.

In Pennsylvania, we have 988 counselors located at 13 crisis call centers around Pennsylvania that can immediately provide phone-based support and connections to local resources.

If needed, the counselor can:

• Activate a mobile mental health crisis team that will arrive on site;
• Provide therapeutic interventions; and/or
• Make referrals for outpatient services or transportation for further evaluation.

Resources:

What happens when someone calls: Phone System Graphic
Video Guide: https://youtu.be/lQMLpj5KE5w