The call is routed to the nearest crisis center that provides immediate counseling and a referral to a local mental health service.

[3] In July 2004, SAMHSA released a notice of funding availability (NOFA) as part of its National Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI).

In September 2004, the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC) was selected to administer the federally funded network of crisis centers named the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

[5] The song was performed at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards as a tribute to Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who had died by suicide in the previous year.

Where ten-digit dialing was elected, which was the case in 82 numbering plan areas–only area code 701 retired the prefix–it was required to be implemented by October 24, 2021.

Instead of routing calls based on a phone number's area code, officials propose using the caller's physical location, similar to how 911 operates.

This change would ensure that callers connect with services near their current location, providing more relevant and immediate assistance regardless of their phone's area code.

[23] Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask.com and most social media services return the telephone number and website of the lifeline as the first result for searches related to suicide, such as "how to tie a noose" or "I want to die.

[28] Concerns centered on the role of emergency and police response with respect to involuntary commitment to treatment facilities and incurrence of medical bills.

In December 2020, shortly after the U.S. FCC finalized its plans for 988, Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a non-binding motion, put forward by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, calling on the federal government to establish 988 as the national suicide prevention hotline.

[33] The launch of the U.S. service in July 2022 caused increased attention to the then-still-pending Canadian plans; a Health Canada statement that month indicated it expected a CRTC decision on the matter before the end of 2022.

[35] On August 31, 2022, the CRTC announced it had finalized its decision to make 988 the national three-digit code for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services, with a scheduled implementation date of November 30, 2023.