988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Lifeline is an easy to remember three-digit number that anyone can call to receive support when experiencing a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use- related crisis. To reach the Lifeline, people can call or text 988 or chat at Lifeline (988lifeline.org). People who are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support may also use 988 to receive guidance and support. This number is in addition to existing national, state-wide, and local call lines for emergency and non-emergency support.

There are additional national, state-wide, and local call lines for emergency and non-emergency support.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline FAQ
Relationship between 988 and 911 FAQ
Additional information regarding 988 can be found on SAMHSA’s 988 Website, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

There are additional national, state-wide, and local call lines for emergency and non-emergency support.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline FAQ
Relationship between 988 and 911 FAQ
Additional information regarding 988 can be found on SAMHSA’s 988 Website, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

988 and the Crisis Care Continuum

As of July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number transitioned to an easy-to-remember 3-digit number (988). 988 is easy to remember so that anyone can call, text, or chat to receive support when experiencing a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use related crisis. In September 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Miles Hall Lifeline Act (AB 988) into law to ensure and expand services for Californians experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

When Californians dial 988, they will be directed to one of 12 Lifeline crisis call centers. The call will be routed based on the caller’s area code. California’s call centers are part of the broader 988 Lifeline crisis center network. If a local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller is automatically routed to a national backup crisis center.

The 988 Lifeline represents an unprecedented opportunity to design and build a robust behavioral health crisis prevention, response and care system.

Learn more about the 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group.

California Behavioral Health
Crisis Care Continuum Plan

The Crisis Care Continuum Plan (CCC-P) articulates a vision for the future state of behavioral health crisis services in California. The plan is inclusive of crises relating to suicide, mental health, or substance use challenges.

The CCC-P incorporates inputs from a wide range of leaders across California, summarizes the current state of behavioral health crisis care, describes a statewide vision for the future, and outlines implementation considerations for the current system to better serve Californians.

This CCC-P is intended to start a discussion and elicit feedback on desired outcomes, potential approaches, implementation considerations, and strategies to engage communities across the state. As required by AB 988, California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will work with leaders at all levels to develop a refined, detailed implementation plan to improve coordination, access, quality, and equity in statewide behavioral health crisis prevention and response.

CalHHS Staff Presentations on Crisis Continuum of Care Plan (CCC-P) to Behavioral Health Task Force (BHTF)

The CCC-P’s future state vision is focused on California’s behavioral health crisis care system and how it has been and will be further developed to ensure that its individual components can prevent, respond to, and stabilize individuals in crisis – including transitions to on-going care.

Components of community-based crisis systems

Behavioral Health crisis systems strive to serve anyone, anywhere and anytime and fall along a continuum.

Preventing Crisis

Community-based preventive interventions for individuals at risk for suicide or mental health/substance use crises (e.g., Zero Suicide, harm reduction programs, warmlines, peer support, digital-self help, recovery support services, addressing stigma)

Responding to Crisis

Acute crisis response services (e.g., hotlines, 911/988 coordination, mobile crisis teams, community and/or co-response models, and first responders)

Stabilizing Crisis

Community-based crisis stabilization services (e.g., sobering centers, in-home crisis stabilization, crisis receiving facilities, peer respite, crisis residential services, and transitioning individuals to care)

In order to prevent behavioral health crises and deliver high-quality crisis care to all Californians in need, CalHHS envisions a future state system that is driven by three strategic priorities:

Build towards consistent access statewide

Across California counties, there are different approaches and resources dedicated to address crisis prevention, stabilization, and response, with considerable geographic variation in the availability of services (e.g., county-run warmlines*, crisis receiving facilities) and varying approaches to coverage of crisis care across public and private insurance.

Enhance coordination across and outside the continuum

Clear definition of roles and responsibilities to ensure there is an accountable public entity that is able to bring the various stakeholders together to establish common goals, protocols and agreements to ensure effective communication and coordination of services along the continuum of care.

Design and deliver a high quality and equitable system for all Californians

CalHHS asserts that an understanding of current needs, disparities, and experiences is needed to ensure consistent quality standards and target outcomes with a population-based approach that is inclusive and culturally relevant. Discussions with California Department of Health and Human Services (CalHHS), Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), subject matter experts *Warmlines are a service, often peer-run, that offers callers emotional support

CalHHS envisions a future state system that provides an array of essential crisis services and baseline service levels across crisis prevention, response, and stabilization to all Californians in need. This array of essential crisis services describes the baseline in the future state, recognizing that specific populations, including children, youth, and older adults, may need additional services based on characteristics or needs.