The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has emerged as a leading force in the realm of suicide prevention and mental health crisis care and offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors. You can call 988 or text SHARE to 741741 for help. Since its establishment, this initiative has undertaken various endeavors to enhance crisis services and drive progress in suicide prevention for individuals across the board. These efforts include cutting-edge public messaging, implementing best practices in mental health, and forging groundbreaking partnerships.
On January 1, 2005, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Vibrant Emotional Health jointly launched the Lifeline. Vibrant Emotional Health, as the grant administrator, collaborates with esteemed partners like the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), National Council for Behavioral Health, and others, to oversee the project. Additionally, the involvement of Living Works, Inc., a highly respected organization specializing in suicide intervention skills training, contributes to the Lifeline’s success.
To ensure its effectiveness, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been subject to independent evaluations since its inception, conducted by a research team from Columbia University’s Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene. Moreover, the Lifeline benefits from ongoing consultation and guidance from national and international experts and researchers dedicated to the field of suicide prevention and crisis response.
