Skip to main content

988 Lifeline Chat and Text

988 Lifeline Chat and Text connects you with caring crisis counselors for emotional support.

To chat with a crisis counselor online 24/7/365, please fill out the form below.

To text with a crisis counselor, send a text to 988 on your phone.

For Veterans and Service Members: Chat with the Veterans Crisis Line

Haga clic aquí para acceder al chat en español.

For Deaf/Hard of hearing: ASL now

Ready to Chat?

To start a text conversation instead, send a text to 988. Your conversations are free and confidential.

After you answer a few questions on the survey below, we will connect you with a crisis counselor. There may be a wait time to connect. To speak with a crisis counselor on the phone, please call 988.

ⓘ Please note if you are using an iPhone browser to chat with us you must remain on the browser chat screen to stay connected. If you navigate away from the chat or access a different iPhone application your connection may be lost. Thank you.

What Happens When I Chat or Text with the 988 Lifeline?

1. First, you’ll see a wait-time message while we connect you to a crisis counselor.

2. If demand is high, you can always look at our “Helpful Resources” below, or call the 988 Lifeline at 988.

3. A crisis counselor will answer your chat or text.

4. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that may be helpful.

Your conversations are free and confidential.

Call Lifeline

If you’re having trouble accessing 988 Chat and the troubleshooting tips below don’t resolve the issue, crisis counselors are available to support you by phone at 988. You can also Contact Us to share the technical trouble you’re experiencing so we can get things fixed.

 

Specialized Services

 

988 Lifeline voice, text, and chat options are offered in Spanish. To call a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press 2. To text with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, text AYUDA to 988. To chat with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, please click here.

 

Los servicios de llamada, texto, y chat de 988 Lifeline se ofrecen en español. Para comunicarse con un consejero de crisis que habla español, marque 988 y luego presione 2. Para enviar un mensaje de texto a un consejero de crisis que habla español, envié la palabra AYUDA al 988. Para chatear con un consejero de crisis que habla español, haga clic aquí.

 

LGBTQI+ people under 25 can access 24/7 LGBTQI+ support on both 988 Crisis Chat or Text. You’ll be asked if you want to opt-in to this support before you’re connected to a crisis counselor.

 

Veterans and active service members can reach the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 by texting 838255, chatting here, or calling 988 and pressing 1. Learn more about the VCL here.

 

Deaf and hard of hearing people can access 24/7 988 Videophone here.

Chat and Text FAQ

Who should use the 988 Lifeline Chat and Text Service?

Show answer

When is 988 Lifeline Chat and Text available?

Show answer

How do I start a text with 988?

Show answer

Are all 988 Lifeline Chat and Text communications secure and confidential?

Show answer

Can I text with the 988 Lifeline in my preferred language?

Show answer

What do I do if nobody answers?

Show answer

What are the American Association of Suicidology and the International Council for Helplines?

Show answer

What is the purpose of the pre-conversation survey?

Show answer

Troubleshooting Tips

The chat window isn't working for me and the other troubleshooting tips didn't fix the problem.

Show answer

I submitted my survey, but nothing happened.

Show answer

I've been waiting a long time.

Show answer

Get in touch

Call the Lifeline

Call or Text the Lifeline anytime, 24/7

988

Read Stories Of Hope & Recovery

Get stories from people who have been through a crisis and found hope.

Read Now