Our Crisis Centers

Crisis centers answer 988 Lifeline calls, texts, and chats. They provide local care with national support.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is made up of an expansive network of over 200 local – and state–funded crisis contact centers located across the United States and its territories. The counselors at these local crisis centers answer calls, chats, and texts from people in emotional distress that the 988 Lifeline receives daily. The 988 Lifeline’s crisis centers provide the specialized care of a local community with the support of a national network.

The 988 Lifeline’s united network provides at-risk individuals across the country with a single, well-known phone number and name. This unity enables the 988 Lifeline to assure that centers are accredited, provide training for counselors, and disseminate standards and best practices.

Calls to the 988 Lifeline are routed to their local center. Local counselors at crisis centers are familiar with community mental health resources, and can therefore provide referrals to local services.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is an effective, life-saving safety net for those experiencing mental health crises, as shown by research. Although the 988 Lifeline is a national program, the funds that sustain the network’s crisis centers come from state and local contributors. Many of the crisis centers in our network require more funding and resources in order to continue operating and growing.

Crisis centers are a key component of mental healthcare within each county and state across the United States. The centers act as a safety net for those at serious risk, especially those with nowhere else to turn.