The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) and its partners continue to improve 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operations to enhance what’s available to help Wyoming residents.

Two call centers within Wyoming are part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system, which is a national network of crisis centers that provide support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The free and confidential 988 line can be reached every day, all day by phone, text or online chat.

“We highly encourage residents to consider contacting the lifeline during a mental health or substance use crisis. We want them to know they can connect with someone who will listen, and offer care and support,” said Alicia Johnson, Crisis/988 Program manager with WDH.

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to expand what our Wyoming-based centers offers this year. People who call or text 988 from a 307 area code number are sent first to help from one of our Wyoming-based centers. Previously, texts were routed to national resources,” Johnson said.

An online chat function is also available at 988lifeline.org. Chat services were also enhanced recently to direct most Wyoming residents who use the option to Wyoming-based help.

“We believe these are great improvements for the 988 system in the state,” Johnson said.

“We expect to begin routing calls based on whether someone is located in Wyoming rather than just on a phone’s area code within the next few weeks,” Johnson said. “We see this as another valuable step forward for our 988 services.”

Currently, calls to 988 are routed to the closest crisis center based upon the area code of the phone used. Wyoming-based 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline services are funded with a combination of state and federal dollars.

Anyone interested in donating to support 988 operations in Wyoming is invited to complete the form found at health.wyo.gov/behavioralhealth/mhsa/988-lifeline-in-wyoming/.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves, please call 911. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or is in emotional distress, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or at 988lifeline.org.