In Crisis? Call or Text 988

988 day. no judgement. just help

988 Day Ideas

The ideas reflected on this page show examples from 988 Day 2024 and were generated by communities and people interested in participating in 988 Day. You can use these ideas year-round to inspire your ongoing promotion of 988 and future 988 Day efforts.

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Carrie Underwood and Papa Roach discussing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Ideas:

  • Create a 988 Day playlist using platforms like Spotify or SoundCloud with songs that make you feel good and tag #988Day. Ask others to contribute to it
  • Create a 988 dance and post it on social media channels with #988Day
  • Piggyback off current viral trends (e.g., 15 things you love in 15 seconds, POV videos, etc.) to talk about 988 on 9/8 including #988Day
  • Share mindfulness coloring posters on social media with 988 branding
  • Record short-form videos of dropping off 988 materials at local businesses
  • Film and post videos in front of 988 signage along with #988Day
  • Ask influencers who you work with to promote #988Day

Screenshot of a 988 Day social media post with a scattering of 988 stickers that say “988 Text, Call, Chat. 24/7” on top of a teal background.

Ideas:

  • Add a 988 Day banner to your profile and encourage others to do the same
  • Create and share 988 Day stickers and social media headers/banners/covers
  • Publish a countdown to 988 Day tagging #988Day
  • Promote 988 Day and SAMHSA Instagram and other social media posts on your account(s) along with #988Day
  • Expand postings to social media and gaming platforms you don’t usually use: LinkedIn, Next-door, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Reddit, Twitch, etc.

Screenshot of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) 988 public service announcement of their marching band with a text overlay that reads “Call or text 988”.

Ideas:

  • Create or share a video simulation to show what calling or chatting 988 looks like
  • Create a "Did You Know?" series with information about 988
  • Hold a 988 Day Trivia Game (online or in person) to address 988 FAQs
  • Encourage community leaders to facilitate mental health discussions with constituents leading up to 988 Day, sharing facts and resources about 988 while promoting open conversations about mental health and seeking help

Screenshot of a YouTube video from a local news station with the headline “988 Day: Raising awareness about mental health through Suicide & Crisis Lifeline” and text overlay that reads “July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024: 91,000 988 Crisis Calls”

Ideas:

  • Ask government officials and organizational partners to promote 988 Day leading up to the date
  • Encourage individuals to share 988 Day posts on personal accounts
  • Ask community partners to promote 988 Day through radio/TV/newspaper announcements and PSAs
  • Repost 988 Day messaging and the hashtag (#988Day) to specific audiences and channels, e.g., “to all my military brothers and sisters"
  • Encourage people who work on Sunday to add 988 Day info to their email signatures for the day

Girl creating 988 Day street painting

Ideas:

  • Host 988 Day suicide prevention walks or memory walks
  • Hold 988-themed scavenger hunts, chalk walks, and mindfulness walks
  • Put together Zumba, or yoga classes with mental health themes and feature 988
  • Host moments of silence or awareness events at work, school, faith communities, or radio stations
  • Organize open mic nights or host a 988-themed party
  • Host community whiteboard events ("I’m glad I’m here for…")
  • Host art contests, coffee sleeve campaigns, or sticker design contests with 988
  • Paint rocks with 988 and leave them around the community
  • Hold games or booths promoting 988 at non-mental health events (e.g., fairs, tailgates, marathons or local fairs)

Image of a proclamation in observance of 988 Action Week from the State of Delaware Office of the Governor that reads “Whereas, the State of Delaware in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Week and National Suicide Prevention Month is launching a 988 Week of Action; and Whereas, Sunday, September 8, marks the inaugural 988 Day, an annual event dedicated to spreading awareness of the 988 Lifeline and emphasizing the importance of mental health support; and Whereas, a week of action encourages all Delaware residents to engage in discussions with friends and loved ones about mental health; and Whereas, Delaware residents can participate in events, including walks, runs, and community information sessions, focusing on school and youth, military and veterans, and more; and Whereas, by using #988Day to share how the #988Lifeline promotes “no judgment, just help,” Delawareans can raise awareness of 988 and mental health resources; and Whereas, 988 Action Week provides another crucial step in the right direction to build a safer and more supportive community and to put an end to suicide in Delaware. Now, Therefore, We, John Carney, Governor, and Bethany Hall-Long, Lieutenant Governor, do hereby declare September 8th through September 14th, 2024, as 988 Action Week in the State of Delaware, and encourage all Delawareans to research the signs of emotional distress and to familiarize yourself with resources available through 988.

Ideas:

  • Partner with local parks for 988 signage and events
  • Engage sports teams (professional, local, university) about promoting 988
  • Work with local government for proclamations or public announcements for 988 Day
  • Partner with gun retailers to engage firearms owners and promote 988
  • Engage local businesses by dropping off 988 materials and setting up materials at public places (bathroom stalls, bridges)
  • Promote 988 at major events like NASCAR races, concerts, or farmers' markets
  • Work with local pharmacies to add 988 information to their materials (pill bottle sticker, flyers in shopping bags)

Girl decorating a school window with a positive message that reads “You’re doing great”

Ideas:

  • Run a 988-themed contest for students to create posters, videos, or social media content to promote 988 Day. Winners could be announced the Friday before 988 Day. Examples: A logo design competition, or TikTok dance challenges promoting mental health awareness
  • Engage students ahead of 988 Day in making 988 bracelets (like the Taylor Swift friendship bracelets) with materials to promote awareness among peers
  • Encourage students and staff to wear specific colors (e.g., teal and purple) on 9/8 in support of 988 Day, helping to spread awareness and unity across the school/religious school community
  • Engage students and teachers in using chalk to decorate school hallways with messages promoting 988 Day

A small round table on stairs leading to a church altar with a tall lit purple candle with unlit votive candles surrounding with a fact sheet about the 988 Lifeline.

Ideas:

  • Coordinate with your community’s faith leaders to share 988 resources and information during services the weekend of 9/8
  • Set up information tables after Sunday faith services offering resources and discussions about mental health and 988
  • Host a 988 Day event at your place of worship
  • Faith-based resources in the 988 Day Partner Toolkit

Two people holding up signs that say “988 Day: No Judgment. Just Help.” with a 988-themed booth that has various mental health and substance use prevention resources.

Ideas:

  • Place 988 Day stickers on Narcan boxes, school buses, or public transportation
  • Set up 988 Day billboards or public signage on bridges, subway walls, or other high-traffic areas
  • Light up buildings, bridges, or other landmarks in teal and purple for 988 Day
  • Work with bars/breweries to use 988-branded coasters and napkins
  • Work with local artists to create murals or creative public displays
  • Use movie previews, local paper ads, and bus campaigns to promote 988
  • Ask a skywriting airplane to promote 988 Day
  • Create a human formation of "988" on 9/8
  • Try to break a Guinness World Record with a 988 Day-related activity (chalk pavement art, holding hands, etc.)
Last Updated: 08/26/2024
Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/newsroom/988-day/ideas