988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
What is 988?
Dialing or texting 988 is a direct connection to compassionate care and support for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, who is at risk of suicide, or who is struggling with emotional distress. The Lifeline is free and confidential, with operators that treat callers with respect and listen without judgment.
If you are calling about a friend or family member who is in distress, the person on the phone will walk you through how to help and provide resources. No matter your circumstances, there is no wrong door when accessing the Lifeline. 988 can be used by anyone, any time.
Frequently Asked Questions about 988
What happens when I call 988?
If you are in crisis or suicidal and call 988 you will talk to a highly trained and compassionate call center professional. All calls are routed to a call center where a crisis counselor will provide confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone of any age, including non-English speakers and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
You typically will be greeted by an automated system and selection of prompts including options for Veterans, Spanish speakers, and LGBTQI+ support for youthe and young adults. A trained crisis counselor will answer the phone and assess the situation and risk to determine how to best respond in order to keep the caller safe. Calls may last for as long as the caller needs to talk through the situation. In rare cases, the crisis counselor might need to alert local law enforcement to make sure a person is safe. In many cases a follow-up call will occur within an agreed upon timeframe.
What are the call options when dialing or texting/chatting 988?
People who call 988 are given five options to connect to a caring, trained counselor:
- Press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line
- Press 2 to connect with the national Spanish Subnetwork
- Press 3 to connect with the national LGBTQI+ support for youth and young adults
- Remain on the line and be connected to a local, Alaskan counselor who can listen and provide local support resources
- Press 0 to bypass the message and connect directly
People who text/chat 988:
- LGBTQI+ subnetwork, text “PRIDE” to 988, or chat 988lifeline.org
- Spanish-language support national subnetwork, text “AYUDA” to 988, or chat linea988.org/chat
- Remain on the text/chat and be connected to a counselor who will reply back and provide support resources.
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services:
- For Videophone services, dial 988 directly on videophone to connect with crisis counselors who can communicate in ASL.
- Select “ASL NOW” from 988lifeline.org for service in American Sign Language
Did 988 replace the Careline?
No. The Careline provides suicide prevention response, but it is also a number that Alaskans can call if they are feeling sad, depressed or just need someone to talk to. 988 is available to Alaskans along with Careline (877-266-HELP), which will continue to take calls like before.
Having an easy-to-remember number for those needing mental health support has been in the planning stages for many 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. Information about the Careline can be found on the Careline Alaska website.
Why Do We Need 988?
Alaska and the nation are experiencing a mental health crisis. But the crisis is not irreversible.
Alaska has some of the highest rates of suicide in the nation, and this is particularly true for Alaska’s youth. In 2022, suicide was the leading cause of death for teens and young adults aged 15-24 years. Alaskan Native and indigenous people are also disproportionately affected by suicide in Alaska; while suicide was the seventh leading cause of death overall in Alaska, it was the 2nd leading cause of years of potential life lost among Alaska Native and indigenous people, according to the Alaska Vital Statistics 2022 Annual Report.
The 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that suicidal thoughts among high school students remain alarmingly high. Since 2011, there has been a notable increase in the percentage of adolescents who have seriously considered (23% in 2023), planned (21% in 2023), or attempted suicide (19% in 2023), as well as those who felt persistently sad or hopeless over the past year (43% in 2023).
988 will improve Alaska’s system of care that responds to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Those statistics are sobering, but there is good news:
- Suicide is most often preventable. For every person who dies by suicide annually, there are 316 people who seriously consider suicide but do not kill themselves.
- Over 90% of people who attempt suicide go on to live out their lives.
- 988 is a critical tool to help meet these challenges with evidence-based crisis intervention. The goal of 988 is to provide a simple and direct way for Alaskans to connect to resources and ultimately, to save lives.
What messages can I share about 988?
988 has been designated as the three-digit code that routes callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The three-digit lifeline number became available across the nation in July 2022. 988 connects callers directly to trained counselors that can open the door for Alaskans to seek the help they need. 988 sends a message that healing, hope, and help are happening every day. Moving to an easy-to-remember three-digit dialing code increased the accessibility of life-saving interventions and resources and strengthened and expanded the existing lifeline.
988 Resources and Toolkits
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has information about 988, partner toolkits, data, suicide prevention resources and other information about national 988 implementation.
Alaska’s 988 Coalition has also developed several resources specific to Alaska that can be shared to help educate Alaskans about 988:
Branding:
If you have questions about how to obtain 988 items for your next outreach event, please contact Sheli DeLaney at sheli.delaney@alaska.gov.
Alaska’s 988 Planning Process
Suicide in Alaska is a major public health concern. Alaska has historically had some of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. The State of Alaska is engaged in several large-scale system reform efforts to improve its crisis response system, mental health and substance misuse supports, and suicide prevention.
In April 2021, the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health kicked off a statewide planning effort to create an implementation plan for 988. This work included the formation of a steering committee, project management team, a key coalition of statewide members, and numerous other workgroups and subcommittees. This planning process has been a highly collaborative effort which includes workgroups on tribal/rural communities, law enforcement, behavioral health services, technology, messaging and equity of services. If you would like more information about 988 implementation in Alaska, please contact
sheli.delaney@alaska.gov.
Embrace Hope with Caring Contacts
Caring Contacts automated text messages can provide hope and help you feel more connected.
To get started with Caring Contacts, click here. Standard text messaging rates may apply.
Created by local Alaskans, Caring Contacts provides positive affirmations at regular intervals, starting often and then less frequently. While you can't reply to these messages, each one will remind you to call or text 988 if you need support.
Caring Contacts is a proven support tool for your ongoing wellness and safety. You'll receive messages for up to one year, but you can text "STOP" to opt out at any time.
Caring Contacts is provided by Alaska Careline Crisis Services, Inc.
What are Suicide Warning Signs?
These are common warning signs that someone is at immediate risk of suicide.
The following three should prompt you to immediately call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or Alaska Careline at 877-266-HELP, or a mental health professional:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
- Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or obtaining a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Other behaviors may also indicate a serious risk—especially if the behavior is new; has increased; and/or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated and/or behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
If you or someone you know is showing these signs, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or Alaska Careline at 877-266-HELP.”
Source:
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - June 2022
Suicide Prevention Resources
Help is available. If you or anyone you know has talked about or considered suicide, please seek help.
- Call 911 if you or someone you know is actively suicidal or have attempted suicide.
- If you are feeling suicidal, sad or depressed, or you just need someone to talk to, call the Careline at 877-266-HELP.
- Call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or Alaska Careline at 877-266-HELP.
- The Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) can be accessed by dialing 988 then pressing 1. Chat and text options can be accessed by visiting the
Veterans Crisis Line website or by texting 838255.”
- The Trevor Project is a national suicide prevention hotline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Call 866-488-7386, text 678678, or visit
The Trevor Project.
- For information about the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council visit the
SSPC website.
- For national information on suicide prevention, intervention, research, education and training visit the
American Association of Suicidology.
- For basic information, facts, and free tools and resources, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
Transition to 988