In 2020, Congress designated 988 as an easy-to-remember three-digit dialing, texting, and chat code to help people dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse emergencies. 988 will complement the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is currently answered by over 200 local crisis centers across the country. The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is one of the local centers and answers 38% of all Lifeline calls in Texas. The 988 transition goes into effect on July 16, 2022. The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will continue to be available for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.
When fully implemented, the number 988 will transform our crisis system. The services offered will be separate from those available by dialing 911. This marks a shift from police response to community behavioral health response, which will hopefully remove barriers for some communities, such as communities of color, LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities and those in more rural communities. Care will be based on a focus on the least punitive and restrictive intervention possible.
Someone to Talk To
Trained crisis counselors will answer calls 24/7 and handle 70-90% of calls; follow-up of callers who are considering suicide will be required. As the number of calls is expected to double, these centers are looking to hire both volunteers and paid staff. The training will be organized, so caring people who want to help those in crisis should apply here. For ways to support your local Lifeline crisis center, visit our Crisis Centers page.
Someone to Respond
Mobile crisis response teams or another multidisciplinary team will respond to emergency calls. Law enforcement would only respond in high-risk situations. Many communities, such as Harris County, TX, have mobile crisis response teams, virtual and associate models, which pair a law enforcement officer with a licensed professional.
Someplace to Go
The appropriate venue will depend on the circumstances of each call and the available community resources. Some will be fine with referrals to the community. In acute cases, crisis stabilization and hospitalization will be required. This may interest you : Don’t be afraid to seek psychiatric treatment. Aftercare and strong continuity of care will lead to better results. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors has developed an Implementation Guide for Providers.
The launch date is just the beginning of a monumental systemic change. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has created a tool to promote the 988 messaging framework. Much work is needed at the federal, state, and local levels to fully implement 988’s vision of a robust crisis system where anyone can immediately access crisis care .
To learn more about Lifeline’s impact, visit their new By the Numbers page. To find out what happens when you call, text or chat with Lifeline, click here. 988 is not yet active on all communications access points in the United States. If you or someone you know is in crisis right now, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Wayne Young, MBA, LPC, FACHE, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.
