Starting today, July 16, the nation has a three-digit hotline number for suicide prevention. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached on all phones including mobile and landlines by calling 988.

988 will be available for call, text, or chat to those experiencing mental health-related distress including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or those looking to help a loved one through a crisis. The existing Lifeline number, 1-800-273-8255, will continue to be available.

More information about the new hotline is available at https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/initiatives/988/

Categories: State of NJ

Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.