Will 988 send police to your home? Here's what we found

988 is the new number to call to connect with a mental health professional in a crisis.

[PilotFlightMars]

It’s sad too see that I’m not alone in my refusal to seek help and support due to the fear of Police being sent out and the real potential of violence at the hands of Police that my declining mental health puts me in.

[fallenkeith]

They will yes. I fell into a dark depression when my mom died and I still miss her deeply. I called the suicide prevention hotline because I was depressed and wanted someone to talk to and they called the police to where I lived. They also didn't care what I was going through and I hate it when people recommend 988

[Petertheconcertpianist]

I've texted this number, Not suicidal, but just for research, to see how it operated. The police were not called to where I live. I found them friendly!

[Maggie_]

I’m worried that if I text a number they’ll send someone to my house/find a way to contact my parents. It’s not that I’m in an unsafe situation but I am extremely uncomfortable talking to my family about this stuff and it honestly makes my thoughts worse if open up even a little. I love my family more than anything and I know they love me but I cannot physically talk to them

[TheRealGrizwald]

To anyone else that is feeling any type of depression, I pray that you can overcome, I need these prayers as well

[Kirby]

Man, I just want my mental health to be well. So much for labeling the hotline "confidential"

[Typical.Anomaly]

I've hated myself for decades without a reason. I'm not a bad person... just afraid of talking to people in general.
I'm pretty sure there are more of me out there. We're just trying to live! Please be nice?

[livingfrugalwithashley]

Will people get a bill for this if they call the number and need that mental health team to come to their house?

[MichelleLawson-olrr]

I called 988 around late march of 2023. I told the woman that I was actively wanting to unalive myself. She basically just offered to give me a phone number to call for a local therapy provider.

[KC-dmls]

don’t text 988. i texted them that i relapsed after so many days, and that i had suicidal thoughts. i was texting them and then chickened out and said i couldn’t talk anymore. 1 hour later police were at my door step, being incredibly overwhelming. i mean they were putting their hands on me, shining lights in my face, banging on my door. when i asked why they were there, they said the 988 operator said i was going to slit my wrists and my throat. i never said that anywhere. now due to that incredibly traumatizing situation, i will never call or text 988 again.

[kelly-kilbride]

I tried to use the chat feature and got no response

[Ybotc]

Yeah. 988 is not gonna help just make things worse. So much for anonymity

[sr]

They could call this the suicide only line.

[gracevalentine]

SWAT-ing is not rare. Anyone can call in another person and ruin their life - with no consequences. In pseudoscience an accusation is a conviction.

[EddVCR]

So I actually did call 988 today as my chronic suicidality has gotten really bad. Straight answer is, they won’t call the cops on you.

I was expecting some volunteer type person to robotically repeat the empty and meaningless “I feel your pain, ” “It gets better, ” “This too shall pass, ” etc.

But after a very short wait, I was connected to a very skilled professional who was able to help me identify warning signs of declining mental health, triggers that may cause the decline, helped me list some skills to temporarily distract myself from suicidal thoughts, formulate safety plans in several levels of severity, connected me to local resources that I can utilize to talk with professionals during emergencies (she ensured me that no hospitalization is necessary to speak with them, ) and arranged a follow up call for tomorrow at my requested time (they’re 24 hrs hotline, so they can call you at any time you request.)

Honestly I’m so glad I called, and I feel more empowered knowing that resources are available. I suspect a lot of people watching this video are hesitant to call because they’re afraid that they’re going to dispatch the cops on you and have you on their record forever. I was one such person. But I personally had a very positive experience with the hotline.

If you’re going through a very hard time, I’d recommend you give them a call. You’ll be connected to professionals who can help.

UPDATE: The person who handled my call kept offering to call back the next day until I was out of crisis, which was yesterday. She and her colleague checked up on me for a week, which is wonderful.

[Desert-SurvivalTraining-sd]

Yes they do, do not call unless you want the cops to come, and be locked up.

[luckystartzzz]

At this point the resources are there people just need to do their part as well

[Ybotc]

This 988 is not helpful. Fill out this info and that info and then hold. Makes it worse

[davidkennamer]

Don’t let the struggles of this world, determine your life story. You are MORE than that. ❤️

[Spiritual.Warrior.]

Can someone explain why life is actually valuable?