The national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline went live on Saturday, July 16. The hotline provides callers with immediate access to a trained crisis counselor. New York State has also recently announced the successful implementation of 988 as the new three digit number to call or text to be connected to the national hotline. All 62 counties in New York State will be covered for the launch of the new 988 lifeline, which will ensure that anyone with a New York area code contacting 988 will be connected to one of New York’s 988 crisis centers.