Frequently Asked
Questions

CALL 988 provides quality emergency mental health care in Central Maryland. We are the local responder for calls to the national 988 helpline.

CALL 988 serves residents in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County and Howard County.

Our services include:
  • A regional call center that provides safe, supportive and confidential emergency counseling.
  • Calls are free and available 24 hours a day.
  • Referrals to longer-term mental health and addiction recovery services.
  • Teams of mental health professionals who can meet you where you are to provide in-person support.

CALL 988 is committed to ensuring everyone in our community has access to the resources they need to care for their emotional health.

Here's what happens when you call the helpline:
  • You'll hear a message telling you that you've reached 988.
  • You will be asked if you want to connect to the Veteran’s Crisis Line, if you prefer Spanish, or if you need support for LGBTQ youth or young adults. This is the only prompt you will receive.
  • You may hear a little hold music while we quickly connect you.
  • A specialized counselor at the 988 call center closest to you will answer the phone.
  • Your counselor will listen and provide emotional support.
  • Your counselor can also connect you to community resources and additional support.

Around 80% of callers get the help they need over the phone.

People call 988 for a lot of reasons. You can call anytime you are feeling overwhelmed, like you can’t cope, or if you just need someone to talk to.

Some reasons people call include thoughts of suicide, drinking too much or using drugs, experiencing anxiety or depression, coping with trauma, feelings of loneliness, or grieving for a loved one.

You can call for yourself or for others you are worried about.

CALL 988 is part of a community effort in Central Maryland to reduce law enforcement involvement in mental health emergencies.

The primary goal is to provide support for people in the moments they most need it and in a manner that is comfortable for them. The vast majority of those seeking help from the Helpline do not require any additional interventions at that moment. Currently, fewer than 2% of Helpline calls require connection to emergency services like 911.

988 provides emergency mental health care. You can choose to call 988 when you or a loved one are:
  • Having thoughts of suicide
  • Feeling lonely, sad or depressed
  • Having relationship problems
  • Drinking too much or using drugs
  • Feeling anxious or overwhelmed
  • Coping with trauma
  • In need of emergency emotional support

Call 911 if you need EMS, fire and/or police dispatched to your location.

988 and 911 work closely together so call takers will help you get to the right place regardless of which number you call.

Help is available in other languages.
  • For Spanish, call 988 and press 2.
  • For other languages, counselors can patch in Language Line interpreters to help.

988 provides Video Relay Service. You can call with a VP number or connect through a web portal at 988.aslnow.io/phones/100030001/.

When you call 988, press 1 to access counselors who are trained in serving veterans and their loved ones.

These counselors can also connect callers to community resources for veterans. Learn more at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.

You can text or chat 988 for support, but you will be connected to a call center outside of Central Maryland.

CALL 988 hopes to offer these services soon for local residents.

Anyone can call 988. Calls are free and you do not need to have insurance.

If you need support connecting to other mental health or substance use services in the community, CALL 988 can help you find a provider who can work with you. There are options for those with or without insurance.

Anyone can call 988. Calls are free and you do not need any particular identification or documentation

Yes. You can call 988 from anywhere in the United States.

Calls are routed to call centers, based on the location of the nearest cell phone tower.

If you call from the Central Maryland region, you will be routed to a local call center. If you call from outside the region, you will be routed to the call center nearest to your physical location.

All call centers provide free, confidential, supportive counseling to anyone who calls.

No. The 988 helpline only knows your phone number if you call/text, or your IP address if you use chat.

Calls are routed to call centers based on the location of the nearest cell phone tower. The helpline will not know who you are or your exact physical location.

Maryland has provided a statewide crisis call center network through 211, press one, for a number of years, but the state has phased out this number. If you call 211 and press one, you will be routed to 988.

No. CALL 988 will not share your information.

The helpline will only contact 911 if someone’s life is in immediate danger. This is rare. Fewer than 1% of calls involve 911 without a caller’s permission.

In Maryland, the 988 system is funded through the state’s 988 Trust Fund.

In 2024, Maryland passed legislation to permanently fund 988 through a monthly telecom fee of 25 cents. This is the same model used to fund the 911 emergency system.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and the Here2Help Hotline (410-433-5175) are still working — and can also be reached by calling 988.