Starting July 1, calls and texts to the Colorado Crisis Services will be connected to 988 Colorado.

With this switch — prompted by the legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 236 this year — 988 will become the state’s primary crisis and mental health line. 

By calling or texting 988, individuals can receive immediate emotional, mental health or substance use support 24/7. The service is free and confidential to use. 

“988 Colorado is staffed 24/7 365 by trained specialists who are ready to provide immediate help to the people of Colorado” said Gordon Coombes, director of 988 Colorado, in a news release.  

The 988 network launched nationwide in 2022 to create a support number that individuals experiencing a mental health crisis could reach, regardless of where in the United States they are. While a nationwide number, calls made in Colorado are redirected to the local support under 988 Colorado. During high volume, calls and texts may be routed to backup centers in other states. 

The Colorado Crisis Services line was created in 2013 in response to the Aurora Theater shooting, evolving to meet the state’s behavioral health needs. 

The two services have been running separately, but will now be consolidated under 988 Colorado and will be operated by Solari Crisis and Human Services. 

This will include the transition of the peer support line currently available through the Colorado Crisis Service, ensuring the peer support services are accessible through 988. 

To date, 988 Colorado has answered over 364,213 calls, with the majority of calls coming from individuals between the ages of 26 to 39 in connection to suicide factors, wellness concerns and social/interpersonal stress, according to the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration. 

988 offers additional options to access specialized services for Spanish-speakers, veterans, LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, and the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.