9 8 8 Hotline for Suicide Ideation Support, Text line for other Crises.

9 8 8 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers, providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone can call or text 9 8 8 or chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat. This includes family and friends of a loved one in crisis, as well as social workers and other professionals looking to secure specialized help for their clients.

According to provisional data from the CDC, 48,824 people died by suicide in 2024. That’s about one death every 11 minutes, which underscores how critically important it is to improve access to care. One of the goals of Suicide Prevention Awareness is to have 9 8 8 as identifiable as 9 1 1 during an emergency. Numerous studies have shown that individuals in crisis feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.

Not all crises require suicide watch, however. In addition to 9 8 8, the Crisis Text Line is a national service available 24 hours a day to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor on any topic. Individuals can Text HOME to 7 4 1 7 4 1, message 443-787-7678 on WhatsApp, or start a web chat online at crisistextline.org.

Each text is limited to 160 characters. The first two responses to the text will be automated. They tell you that you’re being connected with a Crisis Counselor and invite you to share a bit more. It usually takes less than five minutes to connect you with a Crisis Counselor. Once connected, they’ll introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace. They can provide support, but not medical advice. The goal of the conversation is to get you to a calm, safe place. A conversation usually lasts anywhere from 15-45 minutes.

The service also has an online platform that provides shareable reading materials about healthy ways to cope with hard stuff, including: gun violence, emotional abuse, anxiety, loneliness, eating disorders, depression, suicide, and self-harm. All the materials are available in English and Spanish.

You can find more resources related to mental health by selecting the “mental health” option from the dropdown tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.