Mental health emergencies don’t happen on a schedule. These crises occur in the middle of the night in homes like yours. Mental health crises occur in the middle of the night in homes like yours. When people deal with thoughts of suicide, feelings of hopelessness, or the grip of the relapse cycle, having access to resources means the difference between life and death. To provide resources for mental health crises in the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available.1 To ensure that individuals dealing with mental health crises also gain access to long-term resources for the next chapter in their life, AMFM’s Crisis Stabilization Team (CST) is available.1
This page will describe how the 988 system functions, who the 988 system serves, and how AMFM supports the 988 system by being the gateway for care in both the pre-, during, and post-crisis mental health community. Whether you are in crisis yourself, supporting someone in crisis, or work in the health care field seeking referral resources for someone in crisis, this resource guide should provide insight on what to expect from the 988 Lifeline system.
Established in 2022, 988 is the national hotline for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.2 When individuals call 988, they are connected to an experienced crisis counselor in the local or regional crisis center. 988 is available for all individuals who are:
You can reach 988 in the following ways:
Lifeline is free, confidential, and operates 24/7. There are also specialized resources available:
When you call 988, your call will be routed according to the area code you are from to the nearest crisis center. These crisis centers are manned by professionals who understand mental health related issues.
However, if the local center is not an option for you, the call will automatically go through to the national network’s other center. Thus, someone is always available to respond. Also, most calls don’t involve the police unless danger is imminent.
People call 988 for all sorts of reasons. Not one call is the same.3 Some callers are in life-threatening situations. Others simply want someone to listen to them after a bad day. It might be the sting of panic, the rush of grief, the fear of slipping back into the old ways. People need someone to listen. Calling 988 means having someone to listen to. Among the reasons people call 988 are:
988 counselors do much more than listen. They assist in the observation of warning signs, the implementation of safety plans, and the linking of individuals to local and national resources for support. Among these resources are mental health professionals.
988 doesn’t replace long-term care. That’s where AMFM brings relief.
At AMFM Treatment, we also provide crisis stabilization programs in order to assist individuals beyond the call. Our goal is to help people move from survival mode into a safe, supportive space where healing can begin. Additionally, if you know someone who might be struggling with suicidal tendencies, emotional instability, mental breakdowns, we are the team for you.
988 & AMFM aren’t two different options—it’s all one system. 988 Lifeline provides immediate emotional safety, while AMFM delivers the structure & therapy needed for long-term stability.
At AMFM, we:
Thus, for the individual in crisis who dials 988, AMFM might very well follow. At AMFM, clients are afforded the opportunity for therapy, managed pharmacotherapy, community support, and rebuilding.
Awareness of the warning symptoms helps save lives. These symptoms include:
If you recognize yourself or someone else in the above symptoms, call or text 988. This line is always available, and the professionals who answer are trained to deal with the call in a non-judgmental fashion. There is support in English, Spanish, and through various means for the Deaf community.
Perhaps you know someone who is a teacher, nurse, therapist, or simply concerned friend who wants to reach out to the person within their crisis. Well, they do not have to do it by themselves. There are people who can simply call or text 988 on their behalf. These individuals are crisis counselors who will guide them on how to approach the person in their crisis. Additionally, they will know what to listen for in order to assess their safety. But now that the first step has been made, AMFM is ready to continue the process.
At our center, the members of our experienced staff provide in-depth stabilization in order to treat each individual where he or she is. Whether the problem is one of depression, bipolar problems, trauma-related problems, or some combination thereof, we at AMFM do far more than treat the symptoms.
Calling 988 means much more than simply dialing a telephone number. It means hope. To anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide and/or mental breakdowns, the Lifeline means free access to immediate help. To someone who knows someone in crisis, it might provide the opportunity to respond in a thoughtful and meaningful way despite feeling powerless. Of course, the Lifeline connects callers 24/7 to trained crisis counselors in their language. At AMFM, we recognize that the work of crisis response is not simply an intervention, it’s the beginning.
Together with 988, we ensure that no one faces the mental health crisis by themselves. That everyone gets the care they deserve. To seek help for yourself or someone you love who might be in trouble, don’t wait. Help is ready for the taking 24/7 by simply dialing 988 for access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Not only will you gain immediate access to someone who will listen without judgment in the immediate future through the lifeline network by dialing 988, but AMFM Treatment also stands ready to provide the support you seek if long-term solutions are needed.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, “988 Lifeline,” 988lifeline.org, accessed September 10, 2025, https://988lifeline.org.
Matthews S., et al., “National Preparedness for 988 — The New Mental Health Crisis Hotline Number,” PMC (PubMed Central), 2023, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10201840/
Veterans Crisis Line, “What to Expect When You Call,” VeteransCrisisLine.net, accessed September 10, 2025, https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/about/what-to-expect.
Time Staff, “There’s a New Number to Call for Mental-Health Crises: 988,” Time Magazine, July 18, 2022, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, “For Spanish Speakers,” 988lifeline.org, accessed November 25, 2025, https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/spanish-speakers/.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, “Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” 988lifeline.org, accessed November 25, 2025, https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing/.
