LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is joining a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as part of the second annual “988 Day” observance on Sept. 8.
The day of recognition coincides with National Suicide Prevention Month and highlights the Lifeline’s theme for 2025: “Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere.”
“The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline consisting of a network of local call centers that confidentially provide compassionate care for people with emotional distress or a crisis related to life circumstances, anxiety, depression, suicide, mental health, substance use, and more,” said Karen Everett, a departmental specialist in the crisis and stabilization services section at MDHHS.
The Lifeline officially launched in July 2022, replacing the longer National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number with the easy-to-remember three-digit code. Since then, Michigan residents have made more than 261,000 calls to the hotline.
“Year over year, the number of 988 calls are continuing to increase,” Everett said. “That growth shows more people are taking that first step to reach out for support and resources.”
According to MDHHS, more than 100,000 calls were answered in the past year alone. At the beginning and end of each call, individuals are asked to self-report their level of distress. State data shows that more than half of callers report overwhelming distress at the start of a call, while that number drops to about 14% by the end of the conversation.
Officials say the Lifeline is not just for suicide prevention but for anyone experiencing a crisis. “988 is not just for suicide prevention, but for all mental health and substance use disorder crises and distress,” Everett said. “Sometimes people may not be considering suicide, but they are in crisis and they need help.”
Calls from Michigan are typically answered in an average of 13 seconds by trained staff who connect people with immediate support and resources. Friends or family members concerned about a loved one can also use the hotline.
This year’s national theme — “Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere.” — is designed to emphasize empathy, accessibility and reliability, qualities that state officials say are central to the hotline’s mission.
For more information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Michigan, visit the 988 website.
