Answer:
More than 80% of all funding to Vibrant Emotional Health, the administrator of the 988 Lifeline, is in direct support of subnetworks (which includes national back up centers), technology & infrastructure, and counselor training.
FAQ: How do you ensure that 988 counselors are culturally competent?
Answer:
All 988 counselors take required core trainings to be a part of the 988 network to help them support conversations with high-risk and other specific populations. In addition, counselors have access to numerous trainings to help them with inclusive, culturally-competent conversations. Examples of these training resources include materials to support:
American Indian/Alaskan Natives
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Populations
Those with Developmental Disabilities or Autism
Disaster/Mass Violence Impacted Communities
First Responders/Health Care Workers
Hispanic/Latino Community
LGBTQIA+ Community
Older Adults
Rural Communities
Service Members and Veterans
Those with Substance Use Disorders
Those with Trauma
FAQ: What do I do if I have trouble connecting when I call?
Answer:
We work hard to make sure that everyone can reach a 988 counselor as quickly as possible. If you call 988 and are having trouble connecting to a counselor, please let us know using our Contact Us form.
Please call 911 if you are having a medical emergency. If you are in suicidal crisis and cannot connect via phone, you can also try texting 988 or using chat. You can also call 911.
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FAQ: Does the 988 Lifeline feature TTY services for the hearing impaired?
Answer:
For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
We also offer 988 ASL Videophone for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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FAQ: Is the 988 Lifeline available in other languages for non-English speakers?
Answer:
Yes.
When calling 988, press 2 to connect to a trained Spanish-speaking crisis counselor.
When texting 988 in Spanish, you will be asked to type “Ayuda” to connect with a Spanish-speaking counselor.
For people who speak other languages, call 988 and you will be provided translation in more than 240 additional languages through Language Line Solutions. This is available 24/7 through voice calling only.
When calling 988, you or one of your friends or family can ask for an interpreter in English if you are able or you can say the name of the language you need. You will then be connected with an interpreter. The connection to an interpreter typically takes about 20 seconds. Interpreters receive special training to provide this service over the phone and they follow a code of ethics related to confidentiality, accuracy, and impartiality.
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FAQ: Are there specialized services for LGBTQI+ youth who reach out to 988?
Answer:
In 2022, a pilot project was launched for LGBTQI+ people under 25 to access affirming support via the 988 Lifeline by calling 988 and pressing #3. People could also text the word “PRIDE” to 988 or check off the LGBTQI+ box in a pre-chat survey to be connected to a counselor to receive needed support. The LGBTQI+ subnetwork was formalized in 2023. On June 17, 2025, SAMHSA announced the closure of the LGBTQI+ subnetwork, which went into effect on July 17, 2025.
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FAQ: Can the 988 Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line also be reached by dialing 1-800-SUICIDE?
Answer:
Yes. All calls from 1-800-SUICIDE have been routed through the 988 Lifeline network since March 2007. Callers to 1-800-SUICIDE are now being routed through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers across the nation, the same network that responds to 988 callers in crisis. To reach the Veterans Crisis Line, press #1 once you are connected to the 988 Lifeline.
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FAQ: Will the 988 Lifeline number appear on my phone bill?
Answer:
Whether the 988 Lifeline phone number will appear on your phone bill depends on your phone carrier. Please contact your phone carrier to ask how 1-800 toll-free numbers will appear on your phone bill.
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FAQ: Is the 988 Lifeline service still available in a state or an area that does not have a crisis center participating in the 988 Lifeline network?
Answer:
Yes, the 988 Lifeline itself covers all areas of the country, even if there is no local crisis center participating in that area. It is our goal to have calls answered as locally as possible, so we are working on developing relationships in areas where there are no crisis centers in the network.
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FAQ: How do you determine which area each 988 Lifeline crisis center serves?
Answer:
Each of the crisis centers that participate in the 988 Lifeline informs us of their capabilities in terms of number of phone lines, staffing, and geographic coverage areas, which helps in the development of the routing plan. Crisis centers are not asked to cover areas they do not feel capable of covering. Many provide services in their direct areas as well as statewide or nationwide, while others may serve local counties and provide backup for a neighboring crisis center.
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