Your Reason Is Reason Enough To Contact 988
Your Reason Is Reason Enough To Contact 988
If you’ve heard of 988, you know it’s a number to contact for mental health and substance use crises or thoughts of suicide — after all, it’s in the name: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
But 988 isn’t just a crisis resource. Anyone can call or text 988 or chat online anytime, 24/7, 365 days a year, for free and confidential support with any kind of challenge or emotional distress. Whenever you need to talk, a trained and caring professional will listen without judgment.
Vibrant Emotional Health, the 988 Lifeline administrator, established 988 Day on September 8, 2024 to raise awareness of 988. This annual observance encourages people to contact 988 for any kind of support, for any reason. No matter what you’re dealing with, your reason is reason enough to get support.
To celebrate 988 Day, we asked crisis counselors across Washington to share some reasons people have reached out and what they did to help. We’ve collected some of their answers here.
Validation and Coping Skills
“Many callers reach out because they need someone to listen. Being heard and seen is a fundamental human need, and many in our community don’t have the support to feel like someone is listening. Many of the calls I take are people asking for someone to witness their humanity and acknowledge their experiences. I try to provide an understanding space for them to vent, without judgment or shame. Sometimes people just need to share their thoughts out loud and that’s enough for them to feel better. When it isn’t, I work hard to provide more support based on what they find most helpful, whether that’s resources, support groups, or a mobile crisis team — I want my callers to get the care they need and deserve.” Marilyn at Crisis Connections
“People reach out to feel heard and get heavy things off their shoulders that others in their life may not be able to hear. I just want them to feel like their issues matter, that they don’t need to apologize for crying, venting, or being upset. So, I try to make people feel heard when they reach out, instead of trying to “fix” anything. If something matters to you, then it matters to me too. It’s important, even if it’s not a life-threatening situation. You matter, always.” Anonymous at Crisis Connections
“It’s not uncommon to get calls from friends or family of someone in crisis who are so focused on helping their loved one they forget they deserve to be heard and can have feelings about what’s happening as well — especially in situations where the person they’re calling about isn’t open to any services at the time.” Anonymous at Olympic Health & Recovery Services
“As a 988 counselor, I speak with people experiencing a spectrum of emotions and situations. At the end of the day, no matter how seemingly small your reason for calling, I am always happy to offer support, even if all I can give is my presence and attention.” Anonymous at Olympic Health & Recovery Services
“Many callers have never called 988 before and they are surprised to find a listening ear for emotional support, access to resources such as mobile crisis teams in their area, and help finding direction in trying times.” Anonymous at Olympic Health & Recovery Services
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