Become a Member ![\\"snopes](\\"/design/images/logo-main.png\\"/) Search My Profile Logout Submit a Rumor Latest Trending News & Politics Entertainment Fact Checks Quiz Sections Latest Trending Fact Checks News Collections More Contact Us Submit a Rumor Archives Quiz FactBot Newsletters About Us Categories News & Politics Entertainment Science & Technology Lifestyle Free accounts support our journalism Become a Member Login My Profile Logout ![\\"republican_symbol\\"](\\"/design/images/republican_symbol.png\\"/) Snopes fact-checked the vice presidential debate live! Read more here ![\\"democrat_symbol\\"](\\"/design/images/democrat_symbol.png\\"/) Fact Check # Yes, 988 Is a Real US Number for Mental Health Crises and Suicidal Thoughts ## Facebook users copied and pasted posts that mentioned 988, which truly is the first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline in the U.S. ### Jordan Liles ### Published Oct. 24, 2022 ![\\"A](\\" images-1242850226.jpg\\") Image courtesy of PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Claim: Facebook posts correctly state that \"988 is a new system that recently went live to help people reach help in a mental health crisis.\" Rating: True About this rating In late October 2022, we received reader mail that asked about a Facebook post that was being copied, pasted, and shared that claimed, \"988 is a new system that recently went live to help people reach help in a mental health crisis.\" It\'s true that 988 is a real U.S. phone number that people can either can either call or text if they\'re dealing with mental health crises and/or thoughts of suicide. As of the time we published this story, it was also true that the number was relatively new. Advertisement: The full copy-and-paste posts, which we call copypasta, read as follows: > 988 is a new system that recently went live to help people reach help in a > mental health crisis. > > May I please get 2 friends or family members to copy and re-post? > > I am trying to demonstrate that someone is always listening. > > #SuicideAwareness call 988. > > Just two. Any two. > > Say Done. We found no shortage of people copying and pasting this helpful information verbatim on Facebook: Advertisement: Advertisement: We previously reported in July 2020 that the 988 number was in the works. One year later, The Associated Press published that the new system was going live. It launched on July 16, 2021: > The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline > goes live on Saturday. It’s designed to be as easy to remember and use as > 911, but instead of a dispatcher sending police, firefighters or paramedics, > 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. > > The federal government has provided over $280 million to help states create > systems that will do much more, including mobile mental health crisis teams > that can be sent to people’s homes and emergency mental health centers, > similar to urgent care clinics that treat physical aches and pains. > > “This is one of the most exciting things that has happened” in mental health > care, said Dr. Brian Hepburn, a psychiatrist who heads the National > Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. > > Hepburn cautions that when 988 kicks off, it will not be like “the flick of > a switch. It’s going to take a number of years in order for us to be able to > reach everybody across the country.” Over the years, we\'ve often found that Facebook copypasta posts contained misleading information. However, in this case, the posts were completely accurate. Advertisement: According to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website, in addition to the 988 number, \"the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to function indefinitely.\" #### Sources 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Alonso-Zaldivar, Ricardo. “988 Suicide Phone Hotline Getting $282M to Ease July Launch.” The Associated Press, 20 Dec. 2021, mental-health-90a9d04a8c027a3abbd231d234ed0adf. Huberman, Bond, and David Emery. “Snopestionary: What Is Copypasta?” Snopes.com, 19 Sept. 2021, copypasta/. Lee, Jessica. “Feds To Launch 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Phone Number.” Snopes.com, 17 July 2020, hotline/. Tanner, Lindsey. “New 988 Hotline Is the 911 for Mental Health Emergencies.” The Associated Press, 15 July 2022, hotline-988-ac50f02b74b8b89be5592be3f3605ff5. ### By Jordan Liles Jordan Liles is a Senior Reporter who has been with Snopes since 2016. ## Article Tags Facebook Copypasta Recommendations Advertisement: ![\\"Snopes.com\\"](\\"/design/images/logo-main.png\\") Company About Us FAQs Contact Us Submit a Topic Navigate Home Search Archive Newsletters Random Sections Latest Top Fact Checks News Account Join Login Game FactBot Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter © 1995 - 2024 by Snopes Media Group Inc. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com Terms of Use Privacy Policy DMCA Policy
Facebook posts correctly state that 988 is a new system that recently went live to help people reach help in a mental health crisis