Beginning July 1, Coloradans experiencing mental health, substance use, or emotional crises will have a single, streamlined point of contact: the 988 hotline.
Under Senate Bill 25-236, which was signed into law at the end of April, all calls and texts to the former Colorado Crisis Services (CCS) line will be automatically redirected to 988 Colorado. The transition aims to be seamless, maintaining 24/7 support with no new number to memorize.
The law merges CCS with the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, aligning Colorado with a broader effort to simplify access to behavioral health crisis care nationwide.
Dannette R. Smith, commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, called the move “a monumental step toward building a comprehensive and accessible behavioral health system across Colorado.”
Launched nationally in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support for individuals in emotional distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the lifeline has received over 10 million contacts across calls, chats, and texts nationwide. According to a press release by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, since its launch, 988 Colorado has handled more than 364,000 calls, with most callers between ages 26 and 39 seeking assistance for suicide-related concerns, emotional wellness, or interpersonal stress.
Colorado Crisis Services, operational since 2013 and established in response to the Aurora theater shooting in 2012, served as the state’s primary crisis line. Its integration into 988 marks a shift toward centralized crisis response.
“By consolidating Colorado Crisis Services into the national 988 framework, Coloradans have one easy-to-remember number for immediate help,” said Gordon Coombes, director of 988 Colorado. “Trained specialists are available 24/7, 365 days a year.”
The 988 services in Colorado are operated by Solari Crisis and Human Services, a nonprofit specializing in behavioral health crisis response. Solari also manages contact centers in multiple states.
Oversight of the 988 system is provided by the 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise Board, established through Senate Bill 21-154 to govern infrastructure and sustain funding via a state surcharge on phone lines.
Statewide public awareness campaigns, including media outreach and community partnerships in English and Spanish, are underway to promote 988 as Colorado’s primary crisis resource.
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in Colorado, particularly among young people. The Colorado Health Institute reports that the state’s suicide rate consistently ranks among the highest in the country, with rural and mountain communities facing especially limited access to behavioral health providers.
Colorado’s Behavioral Health Strategic Plan aims to build on the 988 implementation by expanding mobile crisis services, increasing the behavioral health workforce, and improving culturally responsive care to better serve diverse populations statewide.
