There is a new, important number in suicide prevention: 988
August 11, 2022
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a new, easy-to-remember number: 988.
988 is more than just a number—it is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.
Call or text 988 to reach the Lifeline, which is a free and confidential. The Lifeline is staffed with trained crisis counselors who treat callers with respect and listen without judgment.
988 can be used by anyone, at any time. People who are worried about a family member or friend can also use 988. The person on the phone will walk you through how to help and provide resources.
If call or text isn’t available, people can visit the Lifeline’s website and use their chat. Learn more or chat here: https://988lifeline.org/.
In Alaska, if you are calling from a 907 area code, 988 connects you to the Alaska Careline, a member of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Having an easy-to-remember number for those needing mental health support has been in the planning stages for years. In 2020, Congress designated 988 as the new dialing code to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network of local call centers, which are staffed by trained crisis counselors.
To learn more about 988 in our state, visit the Alaska Department of Health’s website: https://health.alaska.gov/dbh/Pages/Prevention/988/default.aspx.