Where We Stand
NAMI believes people in mental health crisis deserve a mental health response. NAMI supports the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as the cornerstone of a comprehensive mental health crisis response system that connects people experiencing a mental health or suicidal crisis to appropriate, effective, and timely care.
Why We Care
Nearly 1 in 10 adults in the United States report experiencing a mental health crisis in the last year, and more than 1 in 20 adults had serious thoughts of suicide. Mental health crises and suicides can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. When someone faces a mental health crisis and doesn’t receive the care they need, they can end up in emergency rooms, experience homelessness, become involved in the criminal justice system – or worse, lose their life. Building a coordinated system of crisis care is essential to helping individuals get well and stay well, as outlined in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care. A cornerstone of this system of care is the availability of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Unlike 911, 988 provides a health-first response, which can be the first line of defense in preventing tragedies that result when people don’t access care.
In 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched as a toll-free, 10-digit number for people to contact when in a suicide crisis. In 2020, Congress passed The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (Public Law #116-172) by unanimous consent, designating 988 as a national 3-digit dialing code to connect people experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicide crisis, as well as emotional distress, to trained crisis counselors via call, text, or chat. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline became available nationwide on July 16, 2022, with a nationwide network administered by SAMHSA and call centers operated locally.
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act not only established support for 988, but it also recognized that LGBTQ+, American Indian and Alaskan Natives, and rural populations were at high risk for suicide. The law stated that SAMHSA “must be equipped to provide specialized resources to these and other high-risk populations.” To partially address this need, starting in late 2022, the 988 Lifeline offered evidence-based, specialized services to LGBTQ+ youth through the “Press 3” option. Unfortunately, this option was eliminated effective July 17, 2025.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also played a key role in making the 988 Lifeline a lifesaving resource. The agency led the effort to identify 988 as a national three-digit number and established rules to implement georouting for calls and texts to the Lifeline (see the NAMI Public Policy Position on Georouting Contacts to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), making it easier for people in crisis to connect to care in their community while protecting their specific location information.
Sustained funding is needed to support the local call centers that make up the 988 Lifeline network and to ensure that the millions of people who reach out to 988 every year can receive the support they need. NAMI advocates for federal grants to contribute to the cost of operating 988 call centers, and to be used in combination with state resources. For states, the law creating 988 encouraged them to establish designated, sustainable funding for 988 through the authorization of telecommunications fees on phone bills, similar to how 911 is funded. Many states have already taken action to establish a telecommunications fee or create a sustainable funding source through appropriations.
While great strides have been made to fulfill the promise of 988, there is still more work to be done. Simplifying access, increasing connection to local support, and enhancing funding for 988 were just the first steps. While 988 may be the primary intervention needed in a crisis for many people, every community should create a crisis system of care, connected to 988, to ensure people in crisis are receiving the right care at the right time (see NAMI’s Public Policy Position on Mental Health Crisis Response).
How We Talk About It
- When it comes to mental health crises, one call can save a life.
- Just as 911 is universally known for use during emergencies, like a heart attack or car accident, contacting 988 can be lifesaving for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Mental health crises and suicides can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. When someone experiences a mental health crisis and doesn’t receive the care they need, they can end up in emergency rooms, experience homelessness, become involved in the criminal justice system, or worse, lose their life.
- We need to ensure that everyone who experiences a mental health crisis, no matter where they live, receives a mental health response. A cornerstone of that response is a 24/7 crisis hotline.
- The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was established as an easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code offering 24/7 crisis support via call, text, or chat.
- Directing people to 988 can reduce the need for costly in-person responses to people in crisis, as many crises can be deescalated over the phone.
- But creating 988 is only the first step. Federal, state, and local governments all have a role to play to ensure that there are resources to support 988 and that this universal number is the gateway to a local crisis continuum of care.
- Every person in crisis should have access to not just someone to talk to (988), but someone to respond, and a safe place for help.
- It will take all of us to ensure that the true vision for the 988 Lifeline and a crisis continuum of care is achieved and that we can connect people in crisis to the care that they need and deserve.
What We’ve Done
- NAMI policy position on Mental Health Crisis Response
- NAMI policy position on Georouting Contacts to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- NAMI press release on 988 Day
- NAMI statement on the elimination of LGBTQ+ line, “Press 3” option
- NAMI CEO statement on introduction of 988 legislation
- NAMI statement on passage of S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act
- NAMI webinar on the 2025 Anniversary of 988
Approved by NAMI Board of Directors 12/3/2025.