Text, Call or Chat 988 for Support
988 connects you directly to local, South Dakota professionals at the Helpline Center who are trained to assess your condition and provide help for you or someone you love, even outside of a crisis. 988 is local, available 24/7 and always confidential. You can call, text or use our chat feature to speak with someone who cares.
When to Call 988
- Help with any mental health-related distress
- Suicide crisis or having thoughts of suicide
- Help with substance misuse
- Behavioral health resources and treatment options
- Help with a loved one’s behavioral health
Hope In Any Language.
When you contact 988, language interpretation services are available in over 100 languages. We also offer specialized Spanish-speaking support.
Simply dial 988, then press 2 for a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor. To text with a Spanish-speaking counselor, text AYUDA to 988.
Marque 988, luego presione 2 para un consejero de crisis de habla hispana. Para enviar un mensaje de texto con un consejero de habla hispana, envíe AYUDA al 988.
For
Veterans
Dial 988, then press 1 for veteran-specific support.
For those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing:
Text, chat or use 988 ASL videophone.
For LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Communities:
Dial 988, then press 3 for specialized support.
Make the Right Call
Confused on what number to call for support? These notes can help.
Contact 988 in times of crisis or when you just need guidance for mental health concerns, substance use, suicidal thoughts, emotional support or if you’re seeking help for a loved one. Available by call, text or chat.
Contact 911 right away to connect with emergency dispatchers if you have harmed yourself, have immediate plans to harm yourself or if someone is at risk of hurting themselves or others. Available by call or text.
Contact 211 to find help and support with basic, everyday resources like food, housing, transportation, employment, healthcare or clothing. Available by call or text.
Frequently asked questions
When should you contact 988?
Anyone in need of crisis support for themselves or someone else should call 988. You can also call 988 just to talk about any behavioral health related concerns. 988 is an opportunity to transform our country’s behavioral health system to respond to anyone in need. The Lifeline accepts calls from anyone who is suicidal or in emotional distress, as well as those experiencing substance misuse, relationship concerns, trauma or anxiety.
Doesn’t my 988 call just go to a national hotline?
When a person calls the 988 Lifeline on a cell phone, their call will be sent automatically to a crisis call center near their approximate physical location. The lifeline will not receive detailed information about the exact "pinpoint" location of callers. When a person calls the 988 Lifeline on a landline, calls will be directed based off their area code.
If I call 988, will they call the police or 911?
988 is designed to collaborate with 911 centers to assist with mental health calls when necessary. Most of the time, your call will stay with the 988 Helpline Center for behavioral health needs and resources, and for callers who may be suicidal but do not require dispatch. In fact, based on data provided by Lifeline call centers, approximately 98% of answered Lifeline calls do not require an emergency response.
988 will work with 911 for calls requiring an emergency medical response or law enforcement response. Of the 2% of callers that do require emergency response, over 60% of those calls are ones where the caller agrees that emergency services are needed and collaborates with the Lifeline counselor to receive those services.
What happens when I chat 988?
Chat (English and Spanish) is available through the Lifeline’s website at 988lifeline.org/chat. People seeking chat services are provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor, who identifies the main area of concern. If there is a wait to chat with a crisis counselor, a wait-time message will appear. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful.
What happens when I text 988?
When someone texts to 988, they are responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Currently, texting is available in English and Spanish.
How is 988 different from 911 and 211?
211 is a non-emergency number for finding community resources, such as food banks and shelters. 911 is currently used for all emergencies, including mental health emergencies. Despite their best efforts, 911 dispatchers usually have not received specific training on how to handle mental health and suicide related calls. That’s where 988 comes in. 988 is a behavioral health crisis number, and calls are handled by trained counselors to assist people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis
If I’m under 18, will my parents know if I called 988?
All 988 contacts are kept 100% confidential. You’re also not required to share any personal information to receive services through 988. Your privacy is our priority.
Is there a charge for using 988?
988 is a free service. If you contact the Lifeline, you aren’t required to share any payment or insurance information. Standard data rates for texts and calls may apply.
Create a Safety Plan
When you’re experiencing anxiety, panic, suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, safety plans work. Safety plans help you think through emotional triggers, then brainstorm safe places to go, people you can talk to and strategies you can use to cope.
