988 in Maryland: The Entry Point to Comprehensive Crisis Care 

The launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2022 marked a pivotal moment in how Maryland, and the nation, supports individuals with an urgent need for behavioral health care. 988 is a key entry point to a compassionate and robust continuum of crisis care services. In alignment with SAMHSA’s national crisis guidelines, Maryland’s vision is that every Marylander has someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to be when they need urgent behavioral health support.

Someone to Call

When a Marylander calls, texts, or chats 988, they are connected to one of the state's eight regional 988 call centers. These 988 call centers are staffed 24/7 by trained crisis counselors who provide immediate phone-based support, de-escalation, and connection to local resources. Most contacts to 988 (96%) are resolved with the counselor, without needing additional intervention.



The 988 Lifeline provides a personal, confidential, judgment-free space for individuals experiencing a wide range of issues, including but not limited to:

By offering early intervention and support, 988 helps prevent situations from escalating to a point where a 911 call or emergency room visit is necessary.

The Maryland 988 Call Centers are: Baltimore County Crisis Response, Baltimore Crisis Response Inc.*, Central Maryland Regional Crisis Systems Call Center, Community Crisis Services, Inc.*, Eastern Shore Crisis Response, EveryMind*, Frederick County Mental Health Association, Grassroots Crisis Intervention*, and Life Crisis Center. Those with an asterisk also provide text/chat services. 

Someone to Respond

For situations that require an in-person, timely response, 988 call centers connect callers to mobile crisis response and stabilization services. The Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) has been actively expanding these services statewide, including youth-specific models. Mobile crisis response and stabilization programs provide in-person support to de-escalate any urgent needs, evaluate the individual's behavioral health, stabilize chronic conditions, and make connections to ongoing treatment and support services. These services are typically provided by mental health clinicians, peer support specialists, and other qualified and trained behavioral health professionals.

Somewhere Safe to Be

The final component of the continuum is a safe place for individuals to be if additional support and stabilization is needed or desired. This includes behavioral health urgent care centers (on a walk-in basis or by appointment within 48 hours), crisis beds (up to 4 days), and residential crisis beds (up to 10 days). These programs ensure timely access to crisis assessment, behavioral health intervention, and crisis stabilization. All of these programs can provide an alternative to emergency room visits or inpatient hospitalization, and fill gaps where outpatient provider availability is limited.



A Unified System

In Maryland, the 988 system is increasingly working in coordination with existing emergency services. Protocols are being developed to ensure a seamless transfer from 988 to 911 — and 911 to 988 — when necessary. State statute also ensures a dedicated funding stream for 988 through a small monthly telecommunications fee, to support the long-term sustainability of this vital system.



By integrating the "Someone to Call, Someone to Respond, and Somewhere Safe to Be" model, Maryland is building a comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate crisis response system that ensures all residents have access to the help they need, where and when they need it. For more information about 988, visit the Maryland Department of Health's 988 website.

We encourage everyone, particularly behavioral health providers, to get the word out about 988 to clients, colleagues, community members, family, and friends. You can use materials from the  MDH 988 Toolkit - which includes printable posters, wallet cards, and flyers, social media materials, digital and audio ads, and tip sheets and more.

Maryland Secretary of Health, Dr. Meena Seshamani, along with BHA’s Tanya Schwartz and Ed Soffe, visited the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center for 988 Day (September 8, 2025). Thank you to Dr. Seshamani for her support and for taking the time to learn more about the 988 call, text, and chat services that Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center provides. Additionally, a big thank you to Dr. Mariana Izraelson and her team for hosting this informative event.

988 Center and Data Updates

The eight 988 Centers responded to over 157,000 contacts in 2025!

Call Center Updates

Congratulations to all Maryland 988 Call Centers for reaching and maintaining a 92% in-state answer rate and a 22 second average speed-to-answer rate. Maryland has the 9th highest in-state answer rate among all states and territories.  

Text/Chat Center Updates

Congratulations to Baltimore Crisis Response Inc (BCRI) on becoming Maryland’s fourth 988 text/chat center! BCRI joins three other Centers (Grassroots, Community Crisis Service, Inc., and EveryMind) in responding to texts and chats. Collectively, the 988 text/chat centers have substantially increased the proportion of contacts that are answered by Maryland Centers — from 68% in December 2024 to 78% in December 2025 — and we look forward to continued improvement. Texts/chats not answered in Maryland are routed to national back up centers that provide support to all states, with linkages provided back to local Maryland supports when needed. Thank you to each of these Centers for your hard work improving the in-state response to Marylanders.

What are you most proud of at work and/or in your personal life?

At work, I’m proud of my growth in this field. Each role has deepened my understanding of crisis work and has strengthened my ability to support both callers and fellow counselors. I take a lot of pride in creating a space where people feel safe, heard, and supported, even during some of their hardest moments. I’m grateful to work alongside a team of passionate and skillful individuals who put in their best efforts to show up for others during their most vulnerable times. In my personal life, I’m most proud of being a mother. I work intentionally to carry the skills of communication, emotional regulation, and empathy that I’ve learned into my everyday life at home. Being able to model healthy coping, connection, and care for my children is something I value deeply and continue to grow every day. 

What should others know about calling 988? 

A lot of people think you have to be in a serious or immediate crisis to call 988, but that’s not the case. You can just call whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, lonely, or need space to talk things out. Sometimes it’s simply helpful to say things out loud, vent, or sort through what’s been weighing on you. The counselors on the line are trained, compassionate, and truly show up for this work. They’re everyday heroes who are there to listen, support, and meet you where you are. Reaching out earlier can also be helpful in preventing a situation from escalating into a crisis. You don’t need to have the right words or a plan, and whether you’re going through a little or a lot, 988 is here to support without judgement. If someone is considering calling 988 but feels unsure, I’d want them to know it’s okay to reach out exactly as they are and you don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable. 

How many years have you worked in behavioral health, and in what roles?

I’ve worked in behavioral health for approximately 3.5 years at my current organization, EveryMind. I started as a Crisis Hotline Counselor, advanced to a Senior Crisis Hotline Counselor a year later, and now serve as a Hotline Team Supervisor. Prior to working in crisis services, I spent several years teaching yoga and serving as a doula, which are roles that strengthened my foundation in emotional support, mindfulness, and meeting people during vulnerable life moments. While different in scope, those experiences have shaped my patience, grounding, and benevolence which allows me to better navigate the way I approach crisis work.  

What are you most proud of?

The growth of 988 and its mission is something that I am most proud of. Being with 988 since its official launch as the three digit hotline number in July 2022 has been a great honor. Within its three and a half years, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has become a beacon of light and hope for many people. It has become even more accessible with the introduction of a video chat platform for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It is exciting to think about the growth the organization has made, and the things that are still yet to come. 

What should others know about calling, texting, or chatting 988?

People should know that calling, texting, or chatting 988 does not make you weak. In fact, it takes a great deal of courage to not only make the effort to reach out, but to speak about the more difficult things taking place in one’s life. We are living through very uncertain times, which can lead to uncertain thoughts and feelings. Each call or text that is made to 988 is free and answered by a real human with genuine compassion and empathy. 

How many years have you worked in behavioral health and what roles? 

I have worked in behavioral health for about six years. While pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I had the opportunity to intern with multiple mental health non-profit organizations. My current role as a crisis counselor began in July 2022, which followed one year of working as a Registered Behavioral Technician. Within this role, I provided in-home Applied Behavior Analysis therapy to an elementary-aged boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition to my crisis work, I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and currently serve as the clinical intern for Pro Bono Counseling. Within this role, I provide individual counseling to my own caseload of clients under clinical supervision, as well as act as a liaison for Marylanders and clinicians who provide free mental health counseling. 

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