Common 988 Questions

Moving to a short, easy-to-remember number for immediate mental health and emotional support is part of a larger push to improve emotional and mental health services for Minnesotans.

No. You can contact 988 for help with any emotional or mental health concern. Whether you had a tough day, are overwhelmed, or are having thoughts of suicide, 988 Minnesota Lifeline specialists are ready to provide you support.

988 is safe and confidential and will not share your information without documented verbal or written consent from the person seeking help, except in the rare cases where there is imminent risk of harm to the person or to someone else, or where providing the information is otherwise required by law. This is rare. Fewer than 2% of 988 interactions require a connection to emergency services like 911. Learn more about 988 Lifeline Confidentiality and 988 Lifeline Privacy.

No. You do not need to disclose any personal information about yourself (such as age, race/ethnicity, gender, etc.) to connect with the 988 Lifeline. To provide the most appropriate resources and referrals to social supports, the 988 Minnesota Lifeline specialist may ask for some demographic information. This is optional and you can decline to provide this information.

988 provides immediate mental health and emotional support via call, text or chat. You can contact 988 about everything from a tough day and stress to thoughts of suicide and concerns about alcohol or drug use. Call 911 if you need Emergency Medical Services, fire and/or police dispatched to your location.

988 Minnesota Lifeline specialists are experts in providing the immediate support that people need, right in the moment. Most people do not need any additional services. 988 specialists will only contact 911 if someone’s life is in immediate danger (for example, if someone has actively begun a suicide attempt when they reach out). This is rare. Fewer than 2% of 988 contacts require a connection to emergency services like 911.

No. According to the Federal Communications Commission, calls and texts to 988 require active phone service. You must be subscribed to a paid phone service (monthly or prepaid) to dial or text 988.

No, you will never chat with a bot when you call, text, or chat online with 988. You will always connect with a person who is ready to help.

No, you do not need any identification or documentation to contact 988.

No, you do not need insurance to contact 988. There is no cost to use 988 services. Standard data rates or call charges from telecommunications carriers may apply.

Absolutely. For Spanish, call 988 and press 2. Text and chat are also available in Spanish. For other languages, 988 Minnesota Lifeline specialists can patch in interpreters to help when you call. 988 is able to provide interpretation services for over 200 languages.

Yes. When you call 988, press 1 to access 988 specialists who focus on serving military members, veterans, and their loved ones. Military and veteran-specific chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat) and text (838255) are also available.

Yes. You can directly dial 988 on a videophone or click the "ASL Now" button on 988lifeline.org to connect with 988 specialists who can communicate in ASL and are trained in working with the Deaf and hard of hearing community.