Is 988 Different From 911?

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As of July 16, 2022, all telephone service and text providers in the United States were required to activate 988. The 988 hotline connects families with mental health professionals who are available at all hours and every day of the year. Similar to 911, this 988 hotline was created in an effort to address mental health emergencies all around the country, including the five major US territories. Also, 988 links directly to a veteran’s crisis line.¹

Direct Contact With Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Counselors

Because 988 will put the family in crisis directly in touch with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors, it is hoped that crises will be resolved over the phone. The hotline is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Police officers will only be dispatched in rare cases.

Police Responses to Mental Health Crises Before 988

I remember a time 15 years ago when 988 did not exist, and my parents called 911 to deal with my mental health emergency. I had gone off my medication and was acutely psychotic. Fortunately, I was not handcuffed or treated roughly by the police, who respected my dignity and calmed me down, trying to make light conversation with me, which I appreciated. The crisis was resolved with a hospitalization that was a turning point in my life. Since that time, I have always stayed on my medication and have achieved recovery, which allows me to live a fulfilling, healthy life.

In other cases, patients may not be so fortunate.

I recently interacted with a family whose son appeared to be suffering from mental health problems. He was friendly, smart, and enjoyed fixing things. In the 1990s, after the launch of the internet, he taught himself how to create a personal website. He took his computer apart and put it back together. In addition, he independently learned the computer language Linux.

But what he really loved most was rollerblading, skateboarding, and snow skiing. He loved spending time with many friends. His life was full, and he looked forward to a bright future.

His family never dreamed that one day, severely mentally ill, he would cut off all connections with old friends and family members and lose a job where he had been financially successful, as well as happy. In times of good health, he enjoyed the sport of hunting and collected guns, which he kept with him long into his illness.

Eventually, due to many significant and troubling changes in his life, his father called the police requesting a mental health evaluation. He believed his son was mentally ill and wanted to make law enforcement aware of his gun collection. Unfortunately, this father was largely ignored. The young man had not yet been diagnosed with a mental illness. He was not yet considered a “danger to self or others,” and he could not be forcibly committed to a mental health facility for evaluation.

A few months later, in the middle of a mental health crisis, neighbors called 911. The young man was shot by police that day and died instantly.

It is my greatest hope that 988 will save the lives of many Americans struggling with mental health crises and help mentally ill persons look forward to a brighter future—a future that many can only achieve when consenting to life-saving treatment.

If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7, dial 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.