9-8-8 Anniversary: Acknowledges the anniversary of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Sarah Lu
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Every year on July 16th, we celebrate the anniversary of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a crucial resource that has revolutionized crisis support and mental health in the United States. Since its formal launch in 2022, this memorable three-digit number has offered instant, confidential aid to millions of people in distress.
What Is the 988 Lifeline?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free and confidential hotline that provides emotional support to individuals in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and across the United States and its territories. By simply dialing or texting the three-digit number, people can get easy access to a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, which combine local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
This hotline was originated from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), which was launched by Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) on Janurary 1, 2005. NSPL was established with 109 crisis centers throughout the US using 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), and it had answered 2.2 M calls by 2018. On October 17, 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed to law, which formally incorporated 988 into statute as the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line phone number.
A series of technological improvements was made to facilitate the smooth transition from NSPL to 988, including an expansion of chat service, launch of Spanish text and chat, and launch of videophone for deaf and hard of hearing. Geo-routing of voice calls and text messaging was launched in 2024 to provide a faster and more localized support to callers based on their approximate location rather than area code. Since its launch in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has answered over 13M calls, texts, and chats from people seeking for help across the US. Studies have shown that callers become less depressed and overwhelmed after connecting with a counselor at 988, proving the life-saving effect of this emotional support hotline.
Why Is This Anniversary Important?
The 988 Anniversary serves as a reminder of the progress made in mental health awareness and the ongoing need for crisis intervention. Below are some key reasons why this observance matters:
Expanding Access: The hotline provides support to everyone, regardless of background, language, or financial status. It also offers specialized help for veterans and Spanish speakers.
Saving Lives: Researches reveal that immediate intervention reduces suicide rates. 988 has answered millions of calls, texts, and chats since its launch, bringing hope in moments of despair.
Raising Community Awareness: The anniversary is an opportunity to educate the public about 988, which allows more people to know where to turn in a mental crisis
Breaking the Stigma: Mental health struggles are often overlooked or misinterpreted. By celebrating 988, we normalize the behavior of seeking help and encourage conversations about suicide prevention.
How Can We Support the 988 Mission?
On the way of preventing suicide, eveybody has a role to play, and the 988 Lifeline has lots of opportunities for us to take part. For example:
Career and Volunteer: The 988 Lifeline is made up of a network of local contact centers that relies on desiccated and trained staff and volunteers to help provide non-judgmental support for people in need. Interested individuals can reach out to their local centers to find opportunities in their communities.
Have a Conversation: Everyone is encouraged to use the #BeThe1To 5 action steps to help others around that might be in crisis. If someone is struggling with mental depression, encourage them to reach out to the hotline.
Spread the Word: Support others online by building or joining digital communities and share information about 988 on social media.
Advocate for Mental Health: If possible, support policies that fund crisis services and improve mental health care accessibility.
A Life of Hope
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a crucial step forward in mental health care. By recognizing its anniversary, we celebrate the lives saved and renew our commitment to ensuring no one faces a crisis alone!
If you or someone you know is struggling, please remember that help is just three digits away: call, text, or chat 988.
