988 Number for Mental Health Crisis Hotline
Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can now call or text 988 to access mental health professionals.
San Francisco Chronicle
July 15, 2022
· less than 3 min read
Today, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is getting a three-digit makeover that has been in the works for over two years. Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can now call or text 988—a much shorter, more memorable option than the 11 digits used previously—to access mental health professionals. Still, some experts worry that the new number, which is intended to make the service more accessible, is undercut by a lack of resources available once that number is reached.
The backstory: The OG suicide prevention hotline was launched in 2005 (with the 1-800 number). Despite Logic’s best efforts, health experts warned at the time that the number might be difficult to remember, and the federal government passed a bipartisan bill in 2020 that designated 988 as the official mental health emergency line.
People can still call the longer number—988 is just a bonus way to contact the Lifeline.
One major goal of 988 is to replace the use of 911 for mental health-related emergencies and reduce law enforcement’s involvement in those situations.
The government has also given the Lifeline about $400 million in the last six months to beef up the number of call centers across the US (from 180 to 200+), increase its Spanish-speaking and digital messaging services, and improve backup call centers nationally where calls are sent if local centers are at capacity.
That may not be enough
Because staffing costs and other expenses facing call centers will fall primarily on individual states, call center operators are nervous that they won’t be able to keep up with the expected influx. In the first half of this year, roughly 18% of the 1 million phone calls to the Lifeline were abandoned, according to an analysis by the NYT.
Big picture: Covid’s exacerbation of the US mental health crisis only heightened the urgency to establish 988. In 2020, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death for people in the US, and the second leading cause for 10- to 14-year-olds and 25- to 34-year-olds.—MM
