What to Expect When You Contact the 988 Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

What this source contributes

Describes reaching a counselor by call, text, or chat for emotional distress and suicidal crisis in the United States.

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For an overdose or immediate medical emergency, call 911. Opening this educational page does not contact a counselor.

Research can describe patterns across groups without predicting one person’s experience. Guidance can explain a program without demonstrating its effectiveness. We identify the source type so you can tell those contributions apart.

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Where this evidence connects

When support is urgent

Help should be easy to reach.

For overdose or a medical emergency, call 911. Give naloxone if opioid overdose is suspected and it is available. For emotional distress or suicidal crisis in the U.S., call or text 988.

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