Photo: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - May 29, 2026

Editor's note: If you're facing thoughts of suicide, mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, free, confidential assistance is available by calling or texting 988. A live chat option is available at the 988 website here.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released its 2025 data report on crisis services usage across the state, including data from Cook County. The annual report focuses on services such as the nationwide 988 system, which assists people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, mental health challenges, or substance use crises via phone call, text, or live chat. There is also a videophone option for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Other specialty options include the Veterans Crisis Line and Spanish language services. 

988, which is a shortened version of the 1-800-National Suicide and Prevention Hotline, first launched in July 2022. 

When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, or is with or knows of someone who is, they can call, text, or chat 988, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, for free, and all calls are completely confidential. Typically, the system will triage the caller to the closest Lifeline Center based on location or by the area code registered with the phone they are using. For text messaging, 988 relies on the location based on phone registration, and chat utilizes the zip code provided by the user. If all staff are assisting others, the call is transferred to a backup national center. 

Since its launch, Minnesota Lifeline Centers have answered almost 300,000 contacts. In 2025 alone, 130,000 contacts were answered, representing an almost 50% increase over 2024. Calling is the main method of contact, with 62% last year. Texts accounted for 21% of users, and chats 16%. 

According to the MDH, Minnesota has maintained a "91% in-state answer rate" and an "average speed to answer" of 17 seconds. The average length of a call is 15 minutes, or 35 minutes for a chat/text. The report states that the most common reasons for people to contact 988 in Minnesota include anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, loneliness, or other mental health topics. 

In 2025, youth and young adults were frequent users of the service, with approximately 10% of callers under the age of 15. Additionally, students who identify as gay, lesbian, or queer report "seriously considering suicide" at a rate more than double the statewide average for all 11th graders. 

Cook County Public Health and Human Services Public Health Educator and Youth Prevention Coordinator Rocio Rivas told Boreal Community Media that when it comes to contacting 988, confidentiality is the most important factor, especially for youth. 

If a caller requires more assistance than a phone conversation can provide, the 988 counselor can facilitate a connection to local resources. In Minnesota, this often involves what MDH refers to as a "warm transfer" to a local mobile crisis team. These entities can provide in-person support to help at home or in the community. This approach has resulted in the "vast majority of calls are resolved without needing to dispatch law enforcement or emergency medical services." In 2025, MDH reported that "96% of 988 calls in Minnesota are resolved over the phone." 

According to the MDH, Cook County registered 84 Minnesota Lifeline users in 2025. However, the number may be underrepresented depending on how the system recognizes the location from whoever is contacting the lifeline.

For more information on 988, visit: https://988lifeline.org/

Image: Cook County Public Health