National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The hotline provides 24/7 free and confidential emotional support around the country to those in mental health distress.

The new mental health crisis number 988 launches Saturday, according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The number will be available 24/7 for people to anonymously call or text trained counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Starting Saturday, people experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 988 from any phone to be connected to a counselor. News4’s Tracee Wilkins spoke with mental health professionals about how the service will help save lives.

People in crisis and those trying to help them will have a new phone number — 988 — to reach the national suicide prevention network starting next month, but some mental health professionals worry they will not be ready to handle the anticipated flood of calls.

Lawmakers want to secure funding for the new mental health crisis hotline, 988, which will serve as an alternative to 911 and aim to avoid unnecessary police confrontations.

From 2007 to 2018, the national suicide rate among people 10 to 24 years old increased 57.4%, according to a 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.