Almost exactly a year ago in July 2022, the U.S. transitioned to a three-digit number – 988 – as the easy to remember three-digit dialing, texting, and chat code for anyone experiencing a suicidal or mental health related crisis. This opportunity created an urgent need for consistent, coordinated, and accurate messaging. Acting quickly and with limited resources, public and private partners collaboratively developed research-informed messaging guidance and strategies to align partners, build capacity, and maximize reach of 988 communications and build a foundation for future research-informed communications strategies. This panel aims to share the approach, successes, and lessons learned as partners collaborated to quickly generate research, a messaging framework, and communications materials related to 988–in less than one year since its launch– while simultaneously considering future messaging needs. The panel will also share the resources created through this process for use by messengers – including those at state agencies, crisis centers, non-profit organizations, businesses, foundations, and others – in their ongoing and future efforts to communicate about 988 more effectively and consistently.