Introduction ​

Did you know that after every 11 minutes, a person dies by suicide in the US? People who commit suicide often don’t know what to do; they feel suffocated and can’t see a way out of their black holes. Just telling them to “not lose hope and keep moving forward” is not enough because sometimes - you are out of hope and are static. When people can’t get past the darkness, they let it swallow them whole.

In this article, we will be discussing what this hotline is for and if it’s really effective or not.

What is 988?​

People who require assistance in crucial times when trying to take their lives should contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (which used to be known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). This service offers every US citizen communication via 24/7 call, text, and chat with trained crisis counselors. Qualified councilors on the other side of the phone go out of their way to help people experiencing suicide, substance use, mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. They may also call the emergency services in case the situation escalates.

What Happens When You Call 988?​

Dial 988 and enter your area code. When you call 988, callers will hear a greeting message, and they may be out on hold as the system routes their call to the local Lifeline network crisis center. You will talk to a trained crisis counselor. They will listen to the caller, understands how their problem affects them, provide support, and share resources if needed. If the local crisis center can’t take the call, you will be automatically directed to the national backup crisis center. A plus point about this Lifeline is that it offers live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish. It also uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.

Does 988 Really Work?​

Though several studies show that suicide prevention helplines can resolve 80% of crises recently, many complaints have been filed against the 988. Many people describe them as inefficient as they keep people (who need assistance and care) on hold or decline the call within 2 seconds. Because of this, 80% of callers on hold disconnect from the helpline, and a few people call back within 24 hours.

Few Suicide Preventive Methods ​

Are you concerned about your loved ones' safety and mental health? Have they been showing the warning signs of suicide? Here are a few tips:
  1. If you are concerned about their health or state - talk to them. Ensure you don’t cram in toxic positivity in your conversation and try to earn their trust. Otherwise, they won’t reveal their feelings to you at all.
  2. Take action immediately. Call the crisis center if your loved one is in danger, and don’t leave the suicidal person alone.
  3. Offer them your full support - encouraging them to go to therapy is a good start!

Conclusion ​

You shouldn’t think you are alone in these dark times because there are always people around you who will support you. Local helplines may have a few flaws, but they are the best ways to hinder someone from taking their own life.