988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

On July 16, 2022, the United States began the transition to the new three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support. Calls, texts, and online chat from 988 will be routed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline). The change is part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a phone number people can more easily remember and access in times of crisis.

About 988

• There are three ways you can connect to the Lifeline: Calls, Text, and Online Chats. Connect any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
• Anyone experiencing mental health-related distress (suicide, mental health, and/or substance use crisis) can call, chat, or text 988 for free and confidential support. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
• When you connect to the Lifeline, a trained crisis specialist will answer, listen to you, and provide support and share resources if needed. Crisis Specialists are trained to focus on de-escalation, safety planning, and coping skills.
• The Lifeline provides phone services in English and Spanish. Interpretation services is available for people who call 988. Currently, interpretation and translation service is not available for chat and text.

988 in Minnesota

MDH is working with Minnesota’s four call centers to build infrastructure to prepare for this change.

Minnesota Lifeline Centers are designated to answer 988 contacts from Minnesota-based area codes. When you connect to 988 from a Minnesota area code or zip code (for chat), you will be routed of one of the four Lifeline Centers:

• Carver County Health and Human Services, Mental Health Crisis Program
• First Call
• FirstLink
• Greater Twin Cities United Way

Lifeline Centers in Minnesota are supported by the Minnesota Department of Health. In addition to the 988 Lifeline Centers, there are also local crisis and support lines available that is supported by the Department of Human Services.
Moving to a shorter dialing code is an important step to help reduce suicide, and it is part of a larger push to improve options for Americans facing a mental health crisis.

While this is an exciting time to reimagine how crisis services are provided, the full vision of a transformed crisis care system with 988 at its core will not be built overnight. Transformation of this scale will take time, and we are working together to make it happen.

Stay informed

Updates on the latest new and information about 988 will be made through the monthly Suicide Prevention newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter.

To learn more about 988 at the national level and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.