988 is now available nationwide. You can call or text 988 during a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis.
988 is the new three-digit dialing code connecting people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) where compassionate, accessible care and support is available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. 988 is answered by trained crisis counselors who will listen, understand the problem, provide support and share resources as necessary.
More than 80% of calls can be resolved by a crisis counselor over the phone. When more support is necessary, in-person response and community services will differ by local areas. NAMI Seattle will be engaging our local elected officials and advocating for expanded mental health crisis response in our community.
The work to #ReimagineCrisis is just getting started as local networks build up mental health resources and crisis response. We believe that every person in crisis, and their families, should receive a humane response that treats them with dignity and connects them to appropriate and timely care. NAMI is calling for a standard of care for crisis services in every community that includes — 24/7 call centers that answer 988 calls locally, mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization programs — that end the revolving door of ER visits, arrests, incarceration and homelessness. Learn more at nami.org/988
