FAQ: Are 988 crisis counselors trained in cultural competency?

There are ongoing efforts to improve cultural competency training for 988 Lifeline crisis counselors. Some examples of related improvements to the 988 Lifeline are that:

• Spanish-speaking crisis counselors are answering calls, texts, and chats in Spanish.
• LGBTQI+ trained crisis counselors answer calls, texts, and chats in a specialized LGBTQI+ youth and young adult service.
• Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people can communicate with counselors in American Sign Language.
• The 988lifeline.org website has expanded information related to mental health wellness in the Black, Hispanic/Latino, and AANHPI communities.
• The 988 Lifeline has specific tools and trainings for crisis counselors, such as Spanish-language clinical guidance resources, Deaf and Hard of Hearing best practices for callers/chat visitors, a training course on cultural responsiveness in crisis counseling, an LGBTQI+ guidance document, guidance and webinar trainings for supporting people in rural communities, and an American Indian/Alaskan Native tip sheet.