What is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?
In July of 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline transitioned to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—a simple, three-digit number designed to be as familiar and accessible as 911. This change marked a pivotal moment in behavioral health care, offering 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors via call, text, or chat.
What Has 988 Accomplished?
Today’s poll data find that awareness of 988 is at an all-time high, with roughly 74% of Americans having at least heard of 988, with 28% of people indicating they are familiar with the service. This is up dramatically from 2022. Now in its third year, 988 has become a vital resource for millions.
In the last three years, 988 has received over 16.5 million contacts, including:
- 11.1 million calls
- 2.9 million text messages
- 2.4 million chat messages
Monthly contact volume has consistently exceeded 600,000, nearly double the pre-launch numbers and wait times have dropped significantly, and most callers report that they got some or all of the help they needed.
Monica Johnson, Director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office at SAMHSA, called it “the most transformative initiative in behavioral health care” in her 26-year career.
Challenges That Remain
Despite this growth, awareness remains a challenge. A recent survey found that most Americans still default to calling 911 during behavioral health emergencies, even though 911 centers often lack the resources to handle such crises effectively.
In July 2025, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) officially discontinued the “Press 3” option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which had provided specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth and counselors trained to understand the unique challenges related to identity, discrimination, and family rejection in a response to a directive from the federal government. Despite the specific option being removed, 988 is still an available resource and can be used for support.
Other challenges remain in staffing shortages and burnout. Many centers are struggling to hire and retain crisis counselors, with some states reporting high levels of turnover. Staff have reported severe emotional tolls and worry about their own mental health due to the intensity of calls and lack of support.
The Role of CCBHCs in Crisis Response
Although some experts estimate that more than 98% of the calls to 988 do not escalate to emergency services being dispatched, when a greater level of intervention is needed to address the crisis, CCBHCs are equipped to provide that mobile crisis support and to determine what the right intervention might be. Some possibilities could be that the CCBHC deploys a crisis team to the field, or the client is sent to an emergency department, or referred or scheduled for other types of services. Some CCBHCs have a dual role in that they function as the 988 call center and provide mobile crisis services.
Because CCBHCs are required to provide the nine comprehensive services mentioned below and they are equipped to provide several options for the person in crisis regardless of the level of crisis intervention they might need, making them a great partner for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Crisis mental health services, including 24/7 crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention services, and crisis stabilization
- Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment
- Patient-centered treatment planning or similar processes, including risk assessment and crisis planning
- Outpatient mental health and substance use services
- Outpatient clinic primary care screening and monitoring of key health indicators and health risk
- Targeted case management
- Psychiatric rehabilitation services
- Peer support, counselor services, and family support
- Intensive, community-based mental health care for members of the armed forces/veterans, particularly those members and veterans located in rural areas
Why This Matters
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., with over 49,000 lives lost in 2024 alone. The 988 Lifeline and CCBHCs are working together to change that. But to succeed, we need:
- Greater public awareness of 988
- Expanded workforce capacity for crisis counselors
- Sustained funding for CCBHCs and crisis infrastructure
What You Can Do
Spread the Word: Share resources such as this article or SAMHSA’s toolkits on social media, in newsletters, or at community events.
Advocate: Support policies that expand the CCBHC model and fund crisis response infrastructure.
Take Action: If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. You don’t need to have the right words—just reach out.
Talking about suicide can be uncomfortable, but silence can be dangerous. If you’re unsure how to help someone in distress, 988 counselors are trained to guide you through it.
