Ep. 647 – You can now call 988 for mental health emergencies instead of 911

I am a HUGE fan of the brand new phone number, 988. Save it in your phone as “LIFELINE” or whatever else will help you know what it is.

You can call or text them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if you or a loved one is having a mental health emergency. They have 200 crisis centers across the country staffed and ready to support you the best they can.

My hope and prayer is that all of us will use this number as we need it. Our tax dollars are helping to pay for it. And we’ve seen way too often that when we call 911 for mental health emergencies police show up and get violent.

Make 988 the new default number you call or text in a mental health crisis, OK?