Help during a mental health crisis can now be reached with just three numbers. 988 is the new three-digit code that will connect Americans to trained counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline takes in more than 3,300,000 phone calls and texts per year. With 988 in place, that number is expected to reach 7.6 million users by July 2023.
