!Notice: 988’s national LGBTQ+ Youth subnetwork line has been discontinued. Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help from trained crisis counselors.
Someone to listen whenever you need it
Free
Confidential
Available 24/7/365
988 is for you
Reaching out for support can feel scary, but we are here to make sure you feel safe and cared for, no matter what you’re going through. You can call, text, or chat online with the 988 Lifeline 24/7/365 and connect with a trained crisis counselor who's ready to listen, even if you’re not sure how to put what you’re going through into words.
988 crisis counselors can support you through anything
988 can provide support for:
Sometimes it can feel like no one understands, but you are never alone. Our counselors are trained pros who can help you with tough days, dark thoughts, and much more.
988 can provide support for:
Depression and anxiety
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Feelings of isolation, loneliness, or that no one cares
Trauma or abuse
Feeling unsafe at home
School stress
Bullying
Tough breakups or friendship drama
Concerns about friends and loved ones who need support
Mental health concerns, or just feeling “off”
Struggles with drinking, vaping or other substances
Anything making you feel alone or overwhelmed
If you’re unsure 988 can help, please reach out anyway. We are always ready to help you find the support you need.
988 is separate from 911 and we know your privacy is important. You can learn more about our privacy standards in the FAQ below.
How 988 works
988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor through text, online chat, or call. We are here 24/7/365 to support you with anything you’re going through. You only need to say as much as you’re comfortable sharing. No pressure. No wrong answers.
You’ll hear an automated message saying you’ve reached the 988 Lifeline and a series of options.
1
for the Veterans Crisis Line
2
to get support in Spanish
4
for the Native and Strong Lifeline
Otherwise, stay on the line or dial 0 to be connected to a crisis counselor
Connect
A trained crisis counselor will ask if you are safe, then listen, provide support, and share resources.
Get further support if needed
Crisis counselors can share resources for longer-term support following your call. If there is immediate risk to someone’s life that cannot be reduced during the call, the 988 Lifeline will contact emergency services like 911. Less than 2% of contacts to 988 in Washington require emergency services.
Text 988
To connect with a live counselor, you can text 988 for the main lifeline, to connect with a counselor in Spanish, text N8V to connect with a native counselor at the Native & Strong Lifeline (text N8V to 988), or text the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255. You’ll be given a brief survey that asks the following questions:
1
Zip code (used to connect you to the closest crisis counselor)
Main concerns to address
If you're having thoughts of suicide
Ranking of emotions
Name or alias(optional)
Age(optional)
Phone number(optional)
Connect
A crisis counselor will text you once you submit the survey. They'll ask if you're safe, read your messages, provide support, and share resources.
2
3
Get further support if needed
Crisis counselors can share resources for longer-term support following your text conversation. If there is immediate risk to someone’s life that can't be reduced during the text conversation, the 988 Lifeline will contact emergency services like 911. Less than 2% of contacts to 988 in Washington require emergency services.
Chat 988
First, you’ll get a brief survey to fill out that asks the following questions:
1
Zip code (used to connect you to the closest 988 Lifeline contact hub)
If you're having thoughts of suicide
Ranking of emotions
Name or alias (optional)
Age (optional)
Main concerns to address during the chat - click all that apply (optional)
Addictions
Anxiety
Bullying
Depression
Discrimination
Eating disorder
Family issues
Financial issues
Physical health
Physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse
Problems in school
Relationship issues
Self harm
Sexuality
Someone else’s safety
Violence
Other
Phone number (optional)
Connect
Once you submit the survey, a crisis counselor will message you, they’ll ask you if you’re safe, read your messages, provide support, and share resources.
2
3
Get further support if needed
Crisis counselors can share resources for longer-term support following your chat. If there is immediate risk to someone's life that cannot be reduced during the chat, the 988 Lifeline will contact emergency services like 911. Less than 2% of contacts to 988 in Washington require emergency services.
Hear from 988 crisis specialists
Meet some of our 988 crisis specialists and learn more about what it's like to call, text or chat with 988.
What Happens When You Call, Text, or Chat 988?
How 988 Protects Your Privacy and Keeps You Safe
How 988 Crisis Specialists Prepare to Help When It Matters Most
Real mental health stories
When it comes to mental health, no topic is off limits with 988. Watch this video to hear from real teens about their mental health journeys and how they get the support they need.
FAQ
The 988 Lifeline provides easy access to crisis support for emotional distress. 911 focuses on dispatching emergency medical services, fire, and police as needed.
Only a small percentage of 988 Lifeline contacts require contacting emergency services like 911. Most of those are done with the help-seeker’s consent and cooperation. 988 Lifeline crisis counselors will only contact emergency services if there’s an immediate risk to someone’s life that cannot be reduced during the call, text, or chat. In these cases, the crisis counselor shares information with 911 in order to save a life.
Yes, the 988 Lifeline is staffed with trained crisis counselors who are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
When you call 988, you’ll hear an automated greeting message that features additional options (option 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, option 2 for the Spanish Line and option 4 for the Native and Strong Lifeline). You can press 0 to skip these greetings or stay on the line to be connected to a trained crisis counselor.
They’ll listen to you and work with you to understand your situation and provide compassionate support. The crisis counselor’s goal is to help you feel calm and in a safe place by the time you end the conversation. They can also connect you with additional help or resources.
Once you are connected, this person will listen to you, work to understand what you’re experiencing, provide support, and collaborate with you on ways to feel better. They can also connect you with additional help or resources.
Crisis counselors can support you through any issue causing emotional stress or crisis. Some examples include:
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Depression and anxiety
Feeling isolated, loneliness, or like no one cares
Trauma or abuse
Feeling unsafe at home
Stressed about school, work, or money
Bullying
Mental health conditions, or just feeling “off”
Tough breakups or friendship drama
Worries aboout drug or alchohol use
Concerns about friends, loved ones, or adults who need support
Any other concerns making you feel alone or overwhelmed
Less than 2% of contacts to 988 in Washington require emergency services. If there is immediate risk to someone’s life that cannot be reduced during the call, text, or chat, the crisis counselor will contact emergency services like 911.
Washington has 4 988 Lifeline contact hubs that answer calls, texts, and chats from around the state:
Your call, text, or chat will be directed to one of these contact hubs. If that hub can’t answer in a timely manner, then it will be routed to another hub in Washington. If none of the 4 contact hubs in Washington can answer, you’ll be directed to the national backup center.
Yes, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, you can contact 988 for 24/7/365 support. As with all 988 calls, texts and chats, you do not need to provide any personal information to receive support or services.
988 crisis counselors come from all walks of life and all parts of Washington, and they receive extensive training before answering a call, text, or chat. Training is interactive and delivered in a variety of formats to promote skill learning. Crisis counselors also receive continuous training and skill checks. All 988 Lifeline contact hubs follow the accreditation standards set by the national 988 administrator, Vibrant Emotional Health. For more information about crisis counselor training, see Washington Crisis Center Best Practices.
Yes, people contacting the 988 Lifeline do not need to share personal information to get support or services. The crisis counselor will not know who you are or where you’re located, beyond the phone number or IP address you used to contact 988. If you or someone else needs 911 services, the crisis counselor may ask for information to share with 911 that may be crucial to saving a life.
The 988 Lifeline’s call, chat, and text features are all available in Spanish. You can also get interpretation services in over 240 languages and dialects if you call. To use this feature, call 988 and say the name of the language you need. You’ll be connected to an interpreter as soon as possible.
If you’re Deaf or hard of hearing, you can connect with a trained crisis counselor by:
Videophone: Call 988 with a VP number or connect through the web portal.
Text: Send any message to 988 to start a text conversation
TTY: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
Yes, the 988 Lifeline is free and confidential for all.
Yes, the 988 Lifeline is for anyone seeking emotional support for a wide range of reasons, for example:
Depression and anxiety
Feeling isolated, loneliness, or like no one cares
Trauma or abuse
Feeling unsafe at home
Stress about school, work, or money
Bullying
Mental health conditions, or just feeling “off”
Tough breakups or friendship drama
Worries about drug or alcohol use
Concerns about friends, loved ones, or adults who need support
Any other concerns making you feel alone or overwhelmed
Yes, you can dial 988 for substance use concerns. In the case of an overdose emergency, call 911 and administer naloxone.
The 988 Lifeline does not replace the NSPL phone number but provides an additional, local way for people to reach more crisis centers. You can call either 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to be connected.
988 in Washington is primarily funded by a tax on all radio access lines (mobile, VoIP, and land). The Department of Health also gets federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Medicaid Administrative Match funds, and other small short-term grants.
Provides 24/7 support for thoughts of suicide or other crises for LGBTQIA2S+ young people, through a crisis hotline, counseling, and online resources.
Teen Link
Offers confidential peer support for teens, by teens to help with bullying, drug and alcohol concerns, stress, relationships difficulties, depression, and more.
Trans Lifeline
Available for emotional, financial, and community support for trans and questioning people, provided by fellow members of the trans community.
Jed Foundation
Provides information about how teens and young adults can support one another and overcome challenges.
Black Mental Wellness
Collection of resources about mental health and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective.
The Therapy Fund Foundation
Offers free mental health services, education, and more for and by members of the Black community to address issues caused from systemic oppression, economic suffering and intergenerational trauma.
You Can WA
A resource that educates youth about marijuana, including information on health effects, potential consequences, and healthy strategies for self-care and stress management.
Hear Me WA
A free, 24/7 helpline created by the WA Attorney General’s Office, co-designed with the young people it serves.
