Mental Health Crisis Hotline: Dial 988 is Now Available 24/7 for Free to Help Save Lives

People experiencing mental health crises can now easily dial or text 988. Vibrant Emotional Health, a nonprofit that operates the lifeline on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), launched dial 988 on Saturday.

Inspired by 911, the hotline will connect people with a network of crisis counselors, making mental health support accessible to Americans. The new-three digit 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people who are suicidal or in other mental health crises to a trained mental health professional, per Huff Post.

Before, the dialing code for the suicide prevention lifeline was 1-800-273-TALK, which would remain operational as the expansion to 988 is in transition. If not comfortable talking about mental health concerns, individuals can also send text messages to the three-digit hotline number.

Features of the 988 Hotline

As per NPR, most people experiencing a mental health emergency call 911. However, 911 is not designed to address mental health needs. Most callers with mental health problems are sent to the emergency room to wait hours before treatment or get booked in jail or killed by police. The new hotline hopes to reduce these confrontations with law enforcement and connect them directly to mental health professionals.

The new lifeline will give people access to the network of more than 200 local crisis call centers around the country. When a person calls, they will be connected to a trained counselor closest to them. If the local crisis center could not respond, they would be routed to one of the 16 backup centers in the country.

The hotline is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a far cry from the country's expensive and inaccessible mental health care facilities. Families concerned that their loved one is going through a mental health crisis may also use the hotline.

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Breaking down barriers

According to Jennifer Christian-Herman, the vice president of Mind Body Medicine at Blue Shield of California, the 988 lines are expected to break down practical and stigma barriers to asking for and receiving mental health support.

The hotline aims to ensure that people get the help they need when and where they need it. Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the administrator of SAMHSA, said that when a person calls 988, they can expect a conversation with a trained, compassionate crisis counselor who will talk with them about what they are experiencing. Delphin-Rittmon added that if the case needs further intervention, the crisis counselor will connect it to the local mobile crisis team.

According to CNN, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's five leaders finalized 988 in 2020. In the same year, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 became law. Last year, the 1-800-273-TALK received 3.6 million chats and texts, and SAMHSA expects that the number will double in the first year that 988 is launched.

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