{
  "id": "emergency/911-and-988-lifeline",
  "signature": "AI tells someone in a US mental-health crisis to call 911 instead of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(988.*lifeline|suicide.*crisis.*line.*us|mental.health.*crisis.*number|us.*emergency.*number|911.*versus.*988|988.*us)",
  "domain": "emergency",
  "category": "wrong_emergency_number",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "In the US, 911 is for police/fire/medical emergencies. Since July 2022 there is a separate three-digit number, 988, for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - free, confidential, 24/7 mental-health and suicide-crisis support by call or text. For a behavioral-health crisis, 988 routes to trained counselors; 911 should be reserved for immediate danger to life.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Default to 911 for a mental-health or suicidal crisis that is not an immediate physical emergency",
      "why_fails": "911 dispatches police/EMS and may escalate a behavioral-health situation; it is not staffed by mental-health counselors. Since 2022 the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides specialized crisis counseling and is the recommended first call for emotional/suicidal crises that are not immediately life-threatening.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988",
        "https://988lifeline.org/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Assume 988 replaces 911 for all emergencies",
      "why_fails": "988 is specifically for suicide and mental-health/substance-use crises. For fires, crimes in progress, or medical emergencies with immediate danger to life, 911 remains the correct number. Calling 988 for a heart attack or fire delays the right response.",
      "fail_rate": 0.4,
      "condition": "Immediate danger to life, fire, or crime in progress",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "For a suicidal or mental-health crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) - free, confidential, 24/7. For immediate danger to life, fire, or crime, call 911.",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor; press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line or use Spanish-language options. Use 911 for fires, medical emergencies, and crimes in progress.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988",
        "https://988lifeline.org/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Save both numbers and know the distinction in advance: 988 for emotional/crisis support, 911 for physical emergencies.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Add 988 to your phone alongside 911. The FCC confirms 988 works nationwide by call or text. If unsure and life is in danger, call 911.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.fcc.gov/988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.85,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.9,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "emergency/911-and-988-lifeline/us"
  ]
}