988 Lifeline System and Services

On July 16, 2022, the United States transitioned to the new three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support, called the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline). Calls, texts, and online chats to 988 will reach a trained counselor. The change to 988 is one part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a phone number people can easily remember and access in times of crisis.

About 988

• There are three ways you can connect to the Lifeline: calls, text, and online chats. Connect any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
• Anyone experiencing mental health-related emergency (suicide, mental health, and/or substance use crisis) can call, chat, or text 988 for free and confidential support. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need emergency emotional support.
• When you connect to the 988 Lifeline, a trained crisis specialist will answer, listen to you, and provide support and share resources if needed. Crisis Specialists are trained to focus on de-escalation, safety planning, and coping skills.
• The 988 Lifeline provides phone services in English and Spanish. Interpretation services is available for people who call 988. Currently, interpretation and translation service is not available for chat and text.

988 in Minnesota

MDH is working with Minnesota’s five call centers to support the 988 Lifeline in Minnesota. 

Minnesota 988 Lifeline Centers are designated to answer 988 contacts from Minnesota-based area codes. When you connect to 988 Lifeline from a Minnesota area code or zip code (for chat), you will be routed of one of the five 988 Lifeline Centers:

• Carver County Health and Human Services, Mental Health Crisis Program
• First Call
• FirstLink
• Greater Twin Cities United Way
• Mental Health Minnesota

Lifeline Centers in Minnesota are supported by the Minnesota Department of Health. In addition to the 988 Lifeline Centers, there are also local Mobile Crisis Mental Health Services available that are supported by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Moving to a shorter dialing code is an important step to help reduce suicide, and it is part of a larger push to improve options for Americans needing emergency mental health support.

While this is an exciting time to reimagine how crisis services are provided, the full vision of a transformed crisis care system with 988 at its core will take time. 

988 frequently asked questions

Get the answers to common questions at 988 Lifeline Frequently Asked Questions, including what you can reach out about, how it works, and what you can expect to happen when you call, text, or chat with a trained and caring counselor and get support for whatever you’re dealing with.

988 Minnesota data

See 988 Minnesota data collected from the national 988 Lifeline administrator Vibrant Emotional Health and 988 Minnesota Lifeline Centers. including quick facts and annual summary reports.

Stay informed

Updates on the latest new and information about 988 Lifeline will be made through the monthly Suicide Prevention newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter.

To learn more about 988 Lifeline at the national level and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.