988

American  

[nahyn-eyt-eyt] / ˈnaɪnˌeɪtˈeɪt /

1. (in the United States) the telephone number for a mental health crisis hotline staffed by licensed counselors and other staff trained in suicide prevention.

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Etymology

Origin of 988

First recorded in 2022

Example Sentences

Gamco Investors did so through the sale of 14,988 Bel Fuse shares from Dec. 9, 2025, through Jan. 27, 2026, at per share prices ranging from $145.78 to $191.20.

From Barron's

Readers in the US and Canada can call the 988 suicide helpline or visit its website.

From BBC

At the time, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds the 988 hotline, said it would not “silo LGB+ youth services” but rather focus on serving all who are seeking help.

From Los Angeles Times

Hahn and District 3 Supervisor Lindsey Horvath led an effort to evaluate the impact of losing “press 3” and discovered that more than 14% of the 5.1 million 988 callers elected to use this option in the last year before the service was terminated.

From Los Angeles Times

If approved, Vibrant — the company that administers the 988 phone tree that routes callers to specialized subnetworks like the “press 3” option for LGBTQ+ trained counselors — would then restore the “press 3” option for L.A.

From Los Angeles Times