Preparing for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The newly designated 9-8-8, three-digit number, will route individuals to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where compassionate, accessible care and support are available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis. The 988 line is confidential and free for all. The Lifeline number, 1-800-273-8255, will continue to function. As of July 16, 2022, both numbers connect individuals to the same services. 

There are seven crisis centers in Missouri responsible for answering 988 contacts for the state. The trained crisis specialists at each center will listen, work to understand how the individual’s problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources. Crisis specialists will also have the ability to dispatch mobile crisis response teams for additional crisis response wherever the crisis is occurring in the community and based on the needs of the person.

Please note that the newly-passed Suicide Awareness and Prevention Act (Sections 170.047 & 170.048) will go into effect in Missouri on July 1, 2023. This act requires a public school or charter school with pupils in grades 7-12 that issues pupil or student identification cards to print the 3-digit dialing code that directs calls and routes text messages to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988. This means schools have one year to make this change.