Know the Number. Trust the Support. Why 988 Matters More Than Ever.

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, One Community One Family is highlighting one of the most essential—and sometimes overlooked—resources available to anyone facing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, substance use challenges, or mental health concerns: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

What is 988?

The 988 Lifeline is a free, confidential, and accessible mental health resource available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It connects people in crisis with trained counselors who offer compassionate, judgment-free support—no matter what you’re going through or where you are.

Whether you're experiencing a crisis yourself or are worried about someone else, 988 is the number to call, text, or chat when mental health support is needed.

Why 988?

In the past, those in need of immediate emotional or mental health support had to remember a 10-digit number—1-800-273-TALK. In 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law, launching 988 as a simpler, more memorable three-digit mental health emergency number, much like 911 is for physical emergencies.

The goal was clear: make lifesaving support easier to access. Since its launch in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has responded to over 13 million calls, texts, and chats from people across the U.S. seeking help. The lifeline is administered by Vibrant Emotional Health, a trusted nonprofit organization with decades of experience in crisis response and suicide prevention.

What Services Does 988 Provide?

When you reach out to 988, you’re connected to a trained crisis counselor who listens without judgment, supports you in the moment, and helps you explore next steps. You don’t have to be suicidal to use 988—this service is for anyone in emotional distress or navigating a mental health or substance use crisis.

You can contact 988 in the following ways:

• Call 988 from any phone

• Text 988 from your mobile device

• Chat online via 988lifeline.org/chat
  

• For Veterans, press 1 after calling

• For Spanish-language support, press 2 after calling

• For LGBTQ+ youth and adults, press 3 after calling
  

• Deaf or hard of hearing? Use the 988 Videophone option or call via TTY using 711, then 988
  

Whether you're reaching out for yourself or someone else, 988 is a place to feel heard, supported, and cared for. In fact, studies show that most people feel less overwhelmed, less suicidal, and more hopeful after speaking with a 988 counselor.

Why You Should Trust and Remember 988 Like You Do 911 Mental health is just as important as physical health. Just as you would call 911 in an emergency involving injury or danger, 988 should be the number you remember and share for mental health emergencies.

Recent enhancements, such as georouting, now allow your call to be connected to the crisis center closest to your location—not just your phone's area code. This ensures quicker access to local resources and support in real time.

And just like 911, 988 has been built on a national infrastructure, guided by research, and operated by trained professionals who work every day to save lives and provide critical help in moments of crisis.

Help Raise Awareness of 988 in Your Community

Far too often, people don’t reach out until it’s too late. Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to not only learn the number—but to share it, talk about it, and encourage its use.

Supporting the 988 Lifeline isn’t just about using it—it’s also about helping others know it exists. One of the most meaningful ways you can get involved is by helping raise awareness of 988 in your local community.

Whether you're part of a school, business, faith group, health system, or just an engaged neighbor, you can help spread the word that mental health support is just three digits away.

• Request no-cost 988 materials such as posters, wallet cards, magnets, and stickers from the national Lifeline site here: Order 988 Lifeline materials.

• Visit 988Indiana.org to learn more about how 988 works specifically here in Indiana, find data and local implementation updates, and access their resource toolkit for customizable outreach content.

• Pick up printed 988 materials locally through One Community One Family. We maintain a stock of 988 promotional resources that are available to anyone in Southeastern Indiana who would like to distribute them at community events, offices, schools, or neighborhood organizations. Reach out to us to coordinate a pickup.
  

The more people who know about 988, the more lives can be changed—or even saved. During Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, help us ensure this vital resource is known, trusted, and accessible to everyone.

One Community One Family’s Commitment

As a System of Care leader in Southeastern Indiana, One Community One Family is committed to reducing stigma, building awareness, and ensuring that families know how and where to access mental health support. Through our Mental Health First Aid and QPR trainings and our online resource hub, we’re proud to help amplify the message that you are never alone—and help is just three digits away.

Save this number. Share this number. Use this number.

Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to chat with a counselor today.

Because everyone deserves someone to talk to—especially when it matters most.