988 Lifeline Chat and Text
988 Lifeline Chat and Text is a service of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), connecting individuals with crisis counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat or texting 988.
All chat and text centers in the 988 Lifeline network are accredited by either the American Association of Suicidology or the International Council for Helplines. 988 Lifeline Chat and Text is available 24/7 across the U.S. and certain territories.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is committed to providing individuals in emotional crisis with support, which can include connection to specialized services for different populations. Click here to learn more about these options.
Click here to access chat in Spanish.
Haga clic aquí para acceder al chat en español.
https://domo.networkresourcecenter.org/en/chatvisitor/prechatsurvey/
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Ready to Chat?
To start a text conversation instead, send a text to 988. Your conversations are free and confidential.
After you answer a few questions on the survey below, we will connect you with a crisis counselor. There may be a wait time to connect. To speak with a crisis counselor on the phone, please call 988.
ⓘ Please note if you are using an iPhone browser to chat with us you must remain on the browser chat screen to stay connected. If you navigate away from the chat or access a different iPhone application your connection may be lost. Thank you.
What Happens When I Chat or Text with the 988 Lifeline?
1. First, you’ll see a wait-time message while we connect you to a crisis counselor.
2. If demand is high, you can always look at our “Helpful Resources” below, or call the 988 Lifeline at 988.
3. A crisis counselor will answer your chat or text.
4. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that may be helpful.
Your conversations are free and confidential.
If you’re having trouble accessing 988 Chat and the troubleshooting tips below don’t resolve the issue, crisis counselors are available to support you by phone at 988. You can also Contact Us to share the technical trouble you’re experiencing so we can get things fixed.
Specialized Services
988 Lifeline voice, text, and chat options are offered in Spanish. To call a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press 2. To text with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, text AYUDA to 988. To chat with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, please click here.
Los servicios de llamada, texto, y chat de 988 Lifeline se ofrecen en español. Para comunicarse con un consejero de crisis que habla español, marque 988 y luego presione 2. Para enviar un mensaje de texto a un consejero de crisis que habla español, envié la palabra AYUDA al 988. Para chatear con un consejero de crisis que habla español, haga clic aquí.
LGBTQI+ people under 25 can access 24/7 LGBTQI+ support on both 988 Crisis Chat or Text. You’ll be asked if you want to opt-in to this support before you’re connected to a crisis counselor.
Veterans and active service members can reach the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 by texting 838255, chatting here, or calling 988 and pressing 1. Learn more about the VCL here.
Deaf and hard of hearing people can access 24/7 988 Videophone here.
Helpful Resources
Explore these resources while you wait.
Chat and Text FAQ
Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can use the service. The crisis counselors are here to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing.
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The 988 Lifeline Chat and Text service is available 24/7. If you have trouble connecting to the service, we encourage you to call the 988 Lifeline at 988.
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You can send any message to 988 to start a text conversation with us.
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The confidentiality and security of transcripts and any data collected during chats and texts are ensured through the 988 Lifeline chat and text software provider, which uses the same encryption and data protection standards required by major financial institutions to transact business with each other.
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988 Lifeline Crisis Chat and Text is currently only available in English and Spanish. To connect with the 988 Lifeline in Spanish, text AYUDA to 988.
If you need support in a language other than English or Spanish, please call 988.
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If the service appears offline or busy, please call the 988 Lifeline at 988 – we are available 24/7. If you or someone you know is in danger or needs immediate medical attention, please call 911.
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The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is a world leader in the development, implementation, and facilitation of accreditation, certification, and training programs. Their programs are evidenced-based and best practices to uphold standards of care for those impacted by suicide. They provide accreditation, certification, and training opportunities for organizations and individuals.
The International Council for Helplines (ICH) offers accreditation to all chat and/or text crisis helpline programs to ensure high-quality standards and ethical practice. International Council for Helplines accreditation standards define and establish best practices for crisis chat and texting services. The Standards focus on areas outlined below in order for programs to have the infrastructure in place to provide compassionate and non-judgmental services to those in need of emotional support.
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We ask these questions for three reasons:
- Knowing more about you and how you’re feeling right now can help your crisis counselor better support you.
- Knowing your zip code often helps us connect you with a crisis counselor closer to you. They may know of local resources that can help.
- Knowing more about all our users can help us evaluate our services so we can continue to improve.
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Troubleshooting Tips
We’re so sorry that the site isn’t working for you. Crisis counselors are available to support you by phone at 988. You can also Contact Us to share the technical trouble you’re experiencing so we can get things fixed.
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Troubleshooting Steps: Be sure to check the “I’m not a robot” checkbox, complete any challenges, and answer all required questions before submitting the survey. You can also try disabling your ad blocker, enabling JavaScript, and make sure your browser is up-to-date by going to whatismybrowser.com. To speak to a crisis counselor now, you may also call the 988 Lifeline at 988.
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We’re sorry that you’ve been waiting. To speak to a crisis counselor now, please call the 988 Lifeline at 988. If you believe the site is experiencing technical issues, please let us know on our Contact Us page.
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