988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

No matter where you are in the United States, if you call or text 988, or us the 988 Lifeline chat, you will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the national Lifeline network. These counselors listen and understand your problems, provide support, and connect you to resources if necessary.

A woman in a plaid coat, looking at her phone.

History of 988 Lifeline

The Lifeline was created in 2005 as the first national suicide hotline. Since its inception, more than 23 million people have utilized its services.

  • 2005: more than 50,000 people use to hotline it its first year

  • 2013: Lifeline receives more than 1,000,000 annual calls for the first time

  • 2022: Lifeline is officially accessible by simply dialing 988

Lifeline Facts and Statistics

If you or someone you love is in crisis, Lifeline is here to help. In fact:

  • Lifeline call centers are connected to local communities and resources

  • The average time it takes to connect you to a counselor is only 45 seconds

  • Most calls are deescalated from crisis; only 2% involve emergency services

  • There are also a veteran-specific and a Spanish-speaking menu option

Statistics from 988lifeline.org