988 Suicide Hotline: What to know a year after launch

A year later many people still don't know it exists, but those behind it are working to spread the word.
"Celebrity Jeopardy!" contestants were perplexed in the fall when asked about the new "national 3-digit suicide prevention phone number" in the United States, which debuted last July.

"What is 311?" comedian Iliza Shlesinger guessed, wrongly.
It's turns out she wasn't alone.It's been a year since the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline underwent a makeover, recasting its 10-digit number to 988, but many people aren't aware of the change or what the hotline provides.
The new number is supposed to make it easier for callers to connect with help when they are having suicidal thoughts, experiencing emotional distress or have a crisis related to substance use, but only 17% of Americans say they are very or somewhat familiar with it, according to a poll released Thursday by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Additionally, the survey revealed that people still don't know what to expect when calling.
Many still assume that "you call 988 and - just like 911 - it means someone is going to be sent to you," said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI's Advocacy Manager. "For the vast majority - almost all callers - that's not really the case."
Here's a rundown of what everyone should know about 988 and the challenges ahead as we continue to fund and expand the network.
What should- do you know about 988?
The three-digit dialing code for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline became available in July last year after receiving bipartisan support. Donald J. Trump signed the law establishing the new number in 2020.) Since then, more than five million calls, chats and texts have been routed to 988, a 66% increase over the 12 months previous ones, before the new number arrived.
Almost one million of these contacts were answered by the Veterans Crisis Line, which is linked to 988.
According to the survey, most people assume that calling 988 will automatically dispatch emergency services such as the police, or are unsure, but in reality, less than 2% of Lifeline calls require a connection to services like 911. In fact, 988 does not currently use geolocation, so callers to the hotline remain anonymous unless they do choose to disclose identifying information. Part of the impetus behind the creation of 988 was to reduce reliance on law enforcement or emergency services to manage mental health crises, and instead create an expanded group of services, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In some areas, this includes Mobile Crisis Teams and Stabilization Centers, which provide people with a place to go that isn't an emergency room.
But you don't have to be in crisis or suicidal to call 988 and speak to a counsellor. This is a free service available 24/7 for anyone in need of assistance.
"We hope people will come to us. see before they're in a mental health crisis," said Tia Dole, director of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at Vibrant Emotional Health, the New York-based nonprofit that runs the Lifeline for SAMHSA. .
Why do so few people know?The NAMI survey found that most Americans don't know the crucial facts about...

Health Jul 14, 2023 0 24 Add to Reading List

988 Suicide Hotline: What to know a year after launch

A year later many people still don't know it exists, but those behind it are working to spread the word.

"Celebrity Jeopardy!" contestants were perplexed in the fall when asked about the new "national 3-digit suicide prevention phone number" in the United States, which debuted last July.

"What is 311?" comedian Iliza Shlesinger guessed, wrongly.

It's turns out she wasn't alone.It's been a year since the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline underwent a makeover, recasting its 10-digit number to 988, but many people aren't aware of the change or what the hotline provides.

The new number is supposed to make it easier for callers to connect with help when they are having suicidal thoughts, experiencing emotional distress or have a crisis related to substance use, but only 17% of Americans say they are very or somewhat familiar with it, according to a poll released Thursday by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Additionally, the survey revealed that people still don't know what to expect when calling.

Many still assume that "you call 988 and - just like 911 - it means someone is going to be sent to you," said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI's Advocacy Manager. "For the vast majority - almost all callers - that's not really the case."

Here's a rundown of what everyone should know about 988 and the challenges ahead as we continue to fund and expand the network.

What should- do you know about 988?

The three-digit dialing code for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline became available in July last year after receiving bipartisan support. Donald J. Trump signed the law establishing the new number in 2020.) Since then, more than five million calls, chats and texts have been routed to 988, a 66% increase over the 12 months previous ones, before the new number arrived.

Almost one million of these contacts were answered by the Veterans Crisis Line, which is linked to 988.

According to the survey, most people assume that calling 988 will automatically dispatch emergency services such as the police, or are unsure, but in reality, less than 2% of Lifeline calls require a connection to services like 911. In fact, 988 does not currently use geolocation, so callers to the hotline remain anonymous unless they do choose to disclose identifying information. Part of the impetus behind the creation of 988 was to reduce reliance on law enforcement or emergency services to manage mental health crises, and instead create an expanded group of services, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In some areas, this includes Mobile Crisis Teams and Stabilization Centers, which provide people with a place to go that isn't an emergency room.

But you don't have to be in crisis or suicidal to call 988 and speak to a counsellor. This is a free service available 24/7 for anyone in need of assistance.

"We hope people will come to us. see before they're in a mental health crisis," said Tia Dole, director of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at Vibrant Emotional Health, the New York-based nonprofit that runs the Lifeline for SAMHSA. .

Why do so few people know?The NAMI survey found that most Americans don't know the crucial facts about...