The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched on July 16, 2022, and since then, counselors have answered more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats from people looking for help with suicidal thoughts and mental health and substance use-related crises. 1.7 million of those contacts came via text; with a 51% increase in text messaging contacts in the second year of the program.
In addition to the chat and text features that are part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s goal of making it easier to find help, they have added other features to the program.
Veterans, service members and their families calling into 988 can use the Press 1 option to be connected to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL); an option that has been used almost 1.2 million times over the last 2 years. This is part of the VA’s initiative to make it easier for veterans and their families to reach out for help and get specialized services.
In 2023, Spanish text and chat options were added, allowing individuals to connect directly with Spanish speaking counselors by calling 988 and pressing option 2, texting “Ayuda” to 988, or chatting online at 988lineadevida.org.
Additionally, specialized services for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults were added. Individuals who want to speak with a counselor specifically focused on meeting their needs can call 988 and select option 3, text “Pride” to 988, or access the service via chat on 988lifeline.org.
For hearing impaired individuals who wish to speak with someone without using the text or chat feature, a videophone option was added for American Sign Language (ASL) users.
Since these expansions of services, 988 counselors have answered about 20,000 Spanish-language chats and texts; more than 475,000 LGBTQI+ youth and young adult texts, calls, and chats; and about 20,000 videophone contacts in ASL.
More features are expected to be added to 988 later this year. Cell phone users will be routed to local services based on their approximate physical location using georouting technology; an improvement to the existing method of using the phone’s area code. Callers can be connected to centers that are better equipped to provide nearby resources and services.
Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most callers feel more hopeful and less depressed, suicidal and overwhelmed.
SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 13.2 million adults and 3.4 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, and 48.7 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year. Almost 50,000 people in the United States died by suicide in 2022.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.