As of July 16, 2022, there is a new, national 3-digit hotline for suicide prevention AND for crisis help. Similar to dialing 9-1-1 anywhere in the U.S. to get emergency help, people will now be able to call or text 9-8-8 when dealing with suicidal thoughts and feelings or other mental health crises. When a person calls or texts 9-8-8, they will be connected to trained professionals for help. Note that this number also works for texting, so people can get help via text or phone. If you want help but prefer to chat, visit 988lifeline.org/chat. There is no cost to utilize this service.
If you are not in crisis but are worried about someone who may be, or you would like some extra emotional support, you are also encouraged to contact the new 988 Lifeline via phone, text, or chat.
“You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out—our trained counselors can help you through any #mentalhealth challenges you are experiencing.” @988Lifeline
This is a great and helpful resource but I want to make sure you also understand all that it entails.
There are two kinds of suicide crisis lines: those that engage in nonconsensual active rescue and those that don’t. The 988 crisis service is the first kind. When you call or text this crisis hotline, they will trace your call and call for emergency services to hospitalize you against your wishes if they feel you are at real risk of attempting suicide. This can be a very traumatizing event in itself.
If you are considering working with a counselor and are wondering if we would be a good match, I invite you to call or text me at 816-226-4678 to arrange a free 15-minute video consultation.
