Quick answer
What this service is for
Immediate emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health or substance-use crisis.
Service type: Crisis counseling and connection to local crisis centers
How it may help
- Connects a caller, texter, or chat visitor with a trained crisis counselor.
- Provides support for emotional distress even when a person is not certain whether the situation “counts” as a crisis.
- Can connect people with local crisis resources when appropriate.
What to consider
- 988 is a crisis service, not ongoing therapy or a general medical provider.
- Privacy and emergency-intervention practices belong to the 988 network and participating crisis centers.
- Use the emergency service appropriate to your location when there is an immediate threat to physical safety.
Source and review: Details were reviewed against the provider’s official page on August 25, 2026. Services can change; confirm the current terms before contact.