The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division announced that North Dakota has joined other states in using 988, a new three-digit number that connects people who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis to trained crisis counselors. Firstlink is the centralized call center that will answer 988 calls in North Dakota.

North Dakotans are encouraged to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if they are having thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis or other emotional distress or if they have concerns for a loved one who may need crisis support. An online chat feature is also available at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.

Before the national launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on July 16, North Dakotans could call 211 for 24-hour behavioral health crisis response.

“The nationwide transition to 988 as a three-digit call, text and chat line simplifies access to confidential crisis support and is an important step in strengthening and expanding lifeline infrastructure to respond to people in crisis,” said Laura Anderson, assistant division director. “The long-term goal is to build a robust system that provides crisis care where needed, anywhere in the country.”

FirstLink’s 211 helpline will remain a resource for information and referrals to community resources such as food pantries, homeless shelters and other health and human services. Crisis-related calls that are made to 211 will continue to be answered by FirstLink’s trained crisis counselors at this time.

Callers to 988 who need additional help to de-escalate a crisis will be assisted by a regional human service center mobile crisis response team that will meet an individual where he or she is to provide stabilization, resolution and other supportive services.

Congress authorized the new 988 emergency number in 2020 to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s network of over 200 local, independent and state-funded crisis centers across the country. The lifeline currently provides live crisis center calling services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages.

The 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, will remain operational. People can access support by either 988 or the 10-digit toll-free number.