988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text it any time, day or night, for yourself or for someone you’re worried about. It’s free and confidential.
If someone has a weapon, is badly hurt or is in immediate danger, call 911 instead.
Who answers
A trained crisis counselor. They aren’t police and they aren’t there to judge. Their job is to listen, help you calm the situation down and work out what kind of help is needed.
What they’ll ask
Expect questions like:
- What’s going on right now?
- Is anyone in danger, including you?
- Where are you, and who’s with you?
- Has this happened before? Is anyone already helping?
You can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with.
When a mobile crisis team comes out
Many calls end with a plan made over the phone. But sometimes it helps to have trained people come to you. In Virginia, the 988 counselor can dispatch a mobile crisis team to your home, school, workplace or wherever you are.
Fresh Nu Beginnings runs one of those teams. When we arrive, we:
- Listen first and help things settle
- Check safety with the person and anyone with them
- Decide together whether staying home is safe or more care is needed
- Build a short safety plan and set up follow-up
After the visit
The days after a crisis are often harder than the crisis itself. That’s why most people we see move into Community Stabilization, short-term visits at home while longer-term care gets set up.
You don’t need permission to call 988 for advice about someone else. If you’re worried, call.