On July 16, 2022, 988 became the new national hotline for suicide prevention and mental health emergencies. Callers in crisis are now able to speak to a trained counselor at a certified call center in their state. A local crisis response team should be dispatched to help individuals who are in imminent danger to themselves or others. 

 

The 988 system will include: 

• 24/7 crisis centers — someone to talk to

• mobile crisis teams — someone to respond

• crisis stabilization programs — somewhere to go [1]

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Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in September of 2020. Though a national suicide hotline has existed for years (1-800-273-TALK), the new three-digit number will be easier to remember and use. The bill requires states to implement the number by July 16, 2022.  

 

In recent years, national attention has been given to the state of mental health care and lack of crisis response in the United States. 988 is a significant opportunity to change how we care for people with mental illness and substance use disorders in our communities. The goals of the program include decriminalizing mental health emergencies, providing life-saving services, and transforming the behavioral health crisis response system.[2]

 

SOURCES

[1] 988 Reimagining Crisis Response

[2] 988 Appropriations Report