988 FAQ

988 is an updated, nationwide number for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It replaced the former Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This number is still active but will redirect callers to 988.

When you call, text or chat with the 988 Lifeline, you’ll be connected to trained crisis counselors who are part of the existing 988 Lifeline network, made up of over 200 local crisis centers. These crisis counselors are trained to provide free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress and connect them to resources. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States.

988 services are directly available in English and Spanish, and over 240 other languages are available through tele-interpreters.

Burrell Behavioral Health’s Crisis Services team operates the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in southwest Missouri. If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis, you can call, text, or to speak with a crisis specialist who will work with you to understand what is affecting you, offer support and share local resources.

988 is not just for crisis situations. You can call 988 for any mental health experience you may have, including:

• Thoughts of suicide
• Emotional distress
• Substance use
• Worried about someone else
• Trauma
• General anxiety or depression
• Feeling lonely or hopeless
• Relationship or family problems
• Distress around sexual orientation
• Financial or job stress
• Trouble thinking clearly

When you connect to 988 via call, text or chat, you will first be prompted to select options if you are a member of specific groups:

• Press one for the Veterans Crisis Line
• Press two for the Spanish network
• Press three for LGBTQ+ affirming crisis resources

If you are in crisis or need to bypass this menu, press 0 or stay on the line.

After you’ve made your selection, you will quickly be routed to a trained crisis specialist. The crisis specialist will answer the phone/text/chat, introduce themselves and listen to you to understand what you are experiencing and how it’s affecting you. They will work with you to address your immediate needs, offer support and connect you to local resources.

Yes. When you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline, you are not required to provide any personal information to receive services.

It is important to note that the 988 Lifeline greeting states that calls may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance purposes.

The 988 Lifeline will not share identifiable information about callers/chatters/texters outside of the 988 Lifeline without documented verbal or written consent from the person seeking help, except in the rare cases where there is imminent risk of harm to the person or to someone else, or where providing the information is otherwise required by law.

Read the full confidentiality statement.

No. Geolocation, or receiving pinpoint information for dispatch during an emergency, is not enabled for the 988 Lifeline and is not under active consideration.

It depends. The 988 Lifeline recommends counselors contact emergency services (911, police, sheriff) for assistance only in cases where risk of harm to self or others is imminent or in progress, and when a less invasive plan for the caller/texter’s safety cannot be collaborated on with the individual.

It depends on your phone carrier. Contact your carrier about their policies for 1-800 toll-free numbers.