What Happens When You Call the Suicide Hotline?

No matter how bad things may seem at a given moment, suicide is never the answer to your problems. There is always hope — and if you can’t see that, there are people available right now to help you find it.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers support to anyone in a moment of personal crisis. Don’t hesitate to call if that’s you, says psychiatrist Tatiana Falcone, MD. Just pick up your phone and dial 988.

Here’s what you can expect if you reach out.

What is 988?

The 988 Lifeline offers free and confidential emotional support to people in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States and its territories.

The three-digit number functions like another well-known emergency line (911) to deliver instant assistance to people in a time of great need. (Assistance is also available if you’re concerned about a loved one and want advice.)

The suicide and crisis hotline offers callers support in English and Spanish and uses translation services for more than 240 additional languages. It also provides teletypewriter (TTY) services for those with hearing impairments.

Aside from calling, you can text 988 to get connected to support. You can also chat with counselors online at 988lifeline.org.

988 debuted in 2022 as a transition from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Line. The original suicide hotline number remains active and will reroute callers to the existing 988 network.

What to expect when you call 988

A five-step process begins after you dial 988. Let’s go through it.

1. You’ll be greeted by a pre-recorded message that offers options in case you need specialized support as a veteran or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
2. Music plays as you’re connected with an available counselor. On average, that takes just over 30 seconds as the hotline utilizes an expansive network of more than 200 crisis contact centers.
3. Your counselor will say hello and introduce themselves.
4. You will be asked if you are safe.
5. It’s your time to talk. Your counselor will listen to you to understand your situation. They may ask a series of follow-up questions and offer you strategies and support services that might be helpful.

If needed, a counselor may be able to activate a mobile mental health crisis team to your location. “Mobile crisis response teams aren’t available in all places, but when it’s available, it’s a great resource because it can help you manage your crisis in the moment,” says Dr. Falcone.

Your counselor may ask about scheduling a follow-up call to check in and see how you’re doing or if you need any additional support.

“Having a three-digit number that connects you to a specialized counselor who can help manage your symptoms before you have a suicide crisis is very important because they can tailor their help to your needs,” explains Dr. Falcone. “Interventions like this are lifesaving.”

Reasons to call 988

988 is for anyone who wants someone to talk to in a moment of need. Call 988 if you are thinking of self-harm, suicide or death or dealing with any personal crisis that feels overwhelming.

Reasons to call could include:

• Experiencing obstacles that feel insurmountable (like financial difficulties, limited access to food or finding a safe place to sleep)
• Substance abuse
• Thoughts of harming others
• Being anxious or upset or just having a bad day
• Feeling alone
• Sexual orientation issues
• Worries about family or friends

Don’t wait until you’re at your lowest point to call the suicide hotline or ask others for help, urges Dr. Falcone. It’s OK to reach out if you’re feeling a little blue and just need to talk to someone to get through it.

“When you’re having a bad day or negative thoughts, it can be hard to see all of the choices you can make,” says Dr. Falcone. “Lifeline counselors can walk you through different tools you can use to cope in the moment and help you see the big picture from another perspective.”

What to say when you call 988

Open up and be honest. The more information a counselor has, the more they can do for you. Dr. Falcone suggests:

• Sharing your story and feelings in as much detail as you’re comfortable
• Talking about what’s troubling you and the severity of your thoughts
• Describing any physical and emotional symptoms
• Going over any plans or ideas to hurt yourself or others

“Think of it like any other consultation,” says Dr. Falcone. “If you go to the emergency room because you have pneumonia but don’t tell them you’re coughing or have a fever, it’s very hard for them to provide the special care you need to feel better.”

Your conversation with the counselor is confidential and doesn’t go into your medical record.

Never hesitate to seek help

If you’re in the midst of a mental health crisis and thinking of suicide, connect with someone to talk. 988 is ALWAYS available as an option. It’s a safe outlet where you can share your feelings without judgment.

Again, think of your situation as a medical condition that needs immediate attention. “If you’re having a heart attack, you want help right now because it’s a crisis,” says Dr. Falcone. “If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you need help right now, too.”

Know that you’re not alone in dealing with these feelings, too. National surveys show that:

• 13.2 million adults in the United States seriously thought about suicide in 2022
• 3.8 million made suicide plans
• 1.6 million attempted suicide

“Unfortunately, most people aren’t seen until after they’ve already attempted suicide,” says Dr. Falcone. “But suicide is a preventable cause of death if you’re able to ask for help during your moments of crisis.”

And know that help is available at the suicide and crisis hotline by dialing 988.