At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life’s challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns…

Core values

- **Increased Access to Crisis Services**: The lifeline has seen a significant increase in call volume, ranging from 25% to 185% since its launch, indicating greater access to crisis services[1].
- **Addressing Rising Suicide Rates**: It addresses the rising national and state-level suicide rates, which is a critical public health issue[1][4].
- **Comprehensive Approach**: The lifeline is part of a broader strategy that includes upstream prevention, treatment, crisis intervention, and postvention, aligning with the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention[3].
- **Economic and Social Impact**: By preventing suicides, the lifeline helps reduce the economic toll of suicide, which was over $500 billion in 2020, and mitigates the long-lasting emotional and physical impacts on families and communities[4].
- **Promoting Healthy Connections and Skills**: The lifeline supports strategies to promote healthy connections, teach coping and problem-solving skills, and identify and support people at risk, all of which contribute to community well-being[5].