The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now available on all phones.
The state Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services announced the move this week.
Anyone experiencing mental health-related distress can text or dial 988 to get the same help as those who have called the previous Lifeline number at 800-273-8255.
Human Services and the state Office of Information Technology are also working to establish protocols for transfers between 911 and 988. They are expected to be in place in late fall.
In the meantime, 911 dispatchers may contact 988 specialists as they deem appropriate.
The specialists at 988 will also direct calls to 911 as they find necessary, since 988 does not have its own mobile crisis response capability at this time.
