The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained counselors will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, give support, and get you the help you need. You can call or text 988 and you can chat at 988lifeline.org. This service is available in both English and Spanish.  

988 can help with many concerns, including:  

• Depression  
• Anxiety  
• Substance use  
• Suicidal thoughts  
• Mental and physical illness  
• Loneliness  
• Trauma  
• Relationships  
• Worries about money  
• And more  

Whether you're a long-time resident, a newcomer, or just curious about the workings of local government, our podcast is your go-to source for staying connected and informed. New episodes drop the last Tuesday of every month – and always available on demand wherever you get your podcasts. 

You can check us out on our website – smokymountainecho.podbean.com.