Trigger warning: This post is focusing on suicide prevention. I hope to do so in a way that will not be triggering so I don’t harm the very people I’m trying to help.
This is difficult. And, I feel, very important.
Today, I called 988. This is the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Before you become too concerned for me, I was not in crisis.
I have never called a crisis hotline before, though there have been times when I’ve considered it. In those moments, the fear of the unknown prevented me from reaching out for help. Today, I faced the unknown so it would no longer be a barrier.
Before I get into it, I want to start by saying, please, if you are in a dark place and can’t see the light, please reach out. Reach out to someone.
Secondly, if you are concerned about someone, know that talking to them about suicide is not going to be putting thoughts into their head or make them more likely to harm themselves. Let’s face it, if they are in that place, they’ve probably already thought of it themselves. You talking to them opens an opportunity for them to receive help. I have had friends and family members check-in with me and I have never, not once, been. upset that they had done so, whether the check-in was warranted or not.
For those living in the US, the phone number, as I mentioned, is 988. Put that in your phone. Seriously. Even if you don’t think you will ever need it, just put it in your phone.
Let me first describe my experience calling this lifeline, and then I’ll tell you some of the “need to know” details.
Here’s my experience calling 988.
When you call, you are first given an automated message with a few options. First, it lets you know that the calls are recorded for training and quality assurance purposes. It is at this point that you can ask for Spanish or another language, you can be sent to veteran services, or you can get help specific to those ages 25 or younger who identify as LGBTQI+.
If you simply stay on the line, you get another automated message telling you that they are getting you connected with a counselor. They try to make sure that you aren’t scared off by the automated message by clearly stating what is going on–that you may hear hold music as they connect you with a counselor and that you will be given updates on how that is going in 30 seconds.
Since this was all automated, I am going to assume that this will be everyone’s experience.
Quite quickly, I was connected with a counselor. I explained that I wasn’t currently in crisis, but I wanted to know what to expect if I found myself needing to call them. She was very understanding and not at all upset that I would dare waste their resources on a frivolous call (which may or may not have been something I was worried about). She even complimented me for being proactive about it. She happily explained what to expect.
She told me they will typically ask for your first name, last name, and birthday, but you can choose whether or not you feel comfortable telling them any of those things. She explained I could expect to talk with a counselor who was not following any specific script, but was there to help with what you needed/wanted. Exactly how or what kind of help they offer depends on what kind of help you need. That means you explain the situation and they go forward from there. A few of the things they might do with you include creating a safety plan, referring you to resources, as well as being a listening ear. There is no time limit to the phone call, they stay on the line as long as is needed.
I asked what constituted a crisis. Her answer was reassuring to me: if it feels like a crisis to you, then it’s a crisis. She specifically mentioned suicidal ideation with or without a plan, plans of self harm, and navigating a panic attack.
I also asked about calling with or on behalf of someone else. She said both were fine. So if you are with someone who is experiencing a crisis, you can suggest calling the lifeline together or you can call on their behalf.
At this point, I couldn’t think of any other specific questions, so I thanked her for her time. She asked if there was anything else she could help with, and I said no. Then we said goodbye and the call ended. There were no after-call surveys or anything (something else I was worried about–I mean, really, the last thing I want to do after a phone call like that is rate how well I felt the service was).
Logistics:
There are three modes of communication you can use: phone call, text, and online chat. For both phone calls and text, the phone number is 988. The chat can be accessed at 988lifeline.org/chat or by searching “suicide hotline” (or any variation of those keywords) and clicking on their website, which is 988lifeline.org.
Direct services are available in Spanish, English, and ASL.
Interpreters are available for a whole host of other languages, and these interpreters are trained for this setting.
This lifeline is a national effort. When you call, they try to connect you to someone in your area because they will be more familiar with the local resources.
For more general information, I really recommend going to their website. It is easy to navigate. You won’t find yourself accidentally starting a conversation with a counselor simply by clicking to learn more about something. I accessed it using incognito mode. I don’t know whether that makes a big difference.
Other stuff:
I know one reason people may not call is because they don’t want the police or an ambulance being sent to their house. While that is something the counselor may do, it is not standard procedure to do so for everyone calling them. It is a last resort. Quoting what I found on the website, “The Lifeline expects that crisis counselors contact emergency services (911, police, sheriff) for assistance only in cases where risk of harm to self or others is imminent or in progress, and when a less invasive plan for the caller/texter’s safety cannot be collaborated on with the individual.” https://988lifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Why-might-the-988-Suicide-Crisis-Lifeline-utilize-any-sort-of-intervention-that-may-involve-police_.pdf
Warmlines:
In researching things, I came across something I hadn’t previously heard of. Warmlines. Like hotlines, but not as intense. Since making one scary phone call is all I can handle for now, I will refer you to the website: warmline.org. It is, I’ll admit, not the most well designed website I’ve ever seen. That being said, it is still pretty easy to find information. Whether you think you may ever access this resource or not, I recommend becoming familiar with what is available now, when you are (presumably) calm and relaxed. The first link is to a warmline directory. There is no national warmline, unlike 988. There are local, state-specific warmlines though. The next link on the page takes you to a relatively short article describing someone’s experience calling a warmline.
I know I told you how to find the links above. I’m providing all of them here too. Why? Because sometimes going and looking something up just one more barrier preventing you from getting the help you need. That’s why to recommend looking into these when things are going well. (Not necessarily calling, as I did, but at least visiting the websites.) If looking it up yourself is koo hard, I want you to be able to just click on a link that is easy to find.
Links:
https://warmline.org/#Warmlinelinks
https://warmline.org/warmdir.html#directory
And, just for fun, here are a couple of other links that help you know what to expect if you call a hotline or a warmline.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/warmline-mental-health-help-hotline_l_63695bfee4b05f221e7cda12
Emotional Support Sisters 
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