988 (telephone number)

988 (sometimes written 9-8-8) is a telephone number used in some North American (NANP) countries for a suicide prevention helpline. In the United States, it is known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the number 1-800-273-8255). In Canada, it is known as the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline.

In the United States, the 988 number was implemented in July 2022 as an evolution of its predecessor, a 1-800 number that began in 2005. The new 988 number extends to over two hundred crisis centers that provide 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline. The call is routed to the nearest crisis center that provides immediate counseling and a referral to a local mental health service. The Lifeline supports people who call for their own crisis or for someone they care about.

A similar operation in Canada was launched on November 30, 2023.^[1]