Happy 988 Day, September 8th
September 8 is 988 Day—a good reminder that help is close at hand. 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: trained counselors are available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, emotional distress, or concern for a loved one. Calls, texts, and chats are free and confidential.
When to reach out
- You’re feeling overwhelmed, in emotional pain, or thinking about suicide.
- You’re worried about a friend, neighbor, or family member.
- You need support, resources, or next steps right now.
How to contact 988
- Call: Dial 988. You’ll hear a brief greeting and be connected to a counselor.
- Text: Send 988 to start messaging with a counselor.
- Chat: Visit 988lifeline.org and choose Chat.
- Language access: Phone interpretation is available for many languages; chat/text currently support English and Spanish.
- ASL access: Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers can use 988 ASL Now (video) at 988lifeline.org.
Special routing options (by phone)
- Press 1 for the Veterans & Service Members line.
- Press 2 for support in Spanish.
- Press 3 to reach counselors for LGBTQI+ young people.
What to expect
- A counselor will ask what’s going on and help you feel safer, heard, and supported.
- You don’t have to share your name. You may be asked for a general location (like ZIP code) so you can be connected with local help if needed.
- Most contacts are resolved on the call/text/chat with a plan you can follow after you hang up.
- If there’s immediate danger, counselors will work with you on the least-invasive safety steps and, when possible, seek your consent before involving local responders.
Local help & follow-up
Counselors can connect you with local resources, including mobile crisis teams or community services, and can offer follow-up support if you want it.
Spread the word. A quick conversation at the Interurban—hallway, elevator, community room—could be the nudge someone needs to reach out.
Source: Vibrant Emotional Health, 988 Day fact sheet.