988

Crisis Connections expertly trained staff respond to 988 calls in King County, 24/7. They help people who are experiencing mental-health related distress.

Mental health-related distress could be:

Thoughts of suicide
Mental health or substance use crisis
Any other kind of emotional distress

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis call specialists
who can help.

Resources for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or have Hearing Loss

Is 988 only for suicide-related crises?

What happens when I call 988?

When calling 988, callers first hear a greeting message while their call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center (based on the caller’s area code). A trained crisis call specialist answers the phone, listens to the caller, understands how their problem is affecting them, provides support, and shares resources if needed. If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller is automatically routed to a national backup crisis center. The Lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.

If I call 988, will I be hospitalized?

All Lifeline crisis centers adhere to the Lifeline’s Imminent Risk Policy, which means that crisis center staff work through active engagement to provide support and assistance for people at risk in the least restrictive setting possible. In fact, most contacts with the Lifeline are resolved by the Lifeline itself, by chat or phone, in a manner that does not require additional immediate intervention.

Does the 988 Lifeline accommodate those who are hard of hearing or blind?

Is 988 really a free service?

Yes, the Lifeline responds 24/7 to calls (multiple languages), chats, or texts (English only) from anyone who needs mental health-related or suicide crisis support and connects them with trained crisis call specialists. The support and service received from the crisis specialists is provided at no charge to those who use the service; however, standard data rates from telecommunication mobile carriers may apply to those who text to the Lifeline. If monetary assistance is needed for communications needs, please see www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers for more information.

Are intepreter services available when calling 988?

You don’t have to be suicidal or in crisis to call the Lifeline.

People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, illness, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness. Here’s more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

You are not alone in reaching out. In 2018, more than 2.2 million people called the Lifeline.
The Lifeline is funded and managed by SAMHSA. The Lifeline is a network of over 150 crisis centers nationwide.
Calls to the Lifeline are routed based on the caller's area code to the nearest crisis center for connections to local resources for help.
Crisis Connections receives calls for King County.
Responders are trained crisis call specialists who have stopped over 90 percent of suicide attempts or ideation among callers.

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