3 Months Post Rollout 988 Lifeline Sees Significant Increase in Call Volume
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"On July 16th, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was changed to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—just 3 easy to remember numbers—in an attempt to simplify access to lifesaving support and crisis services.
And 3 months post rollout it seems to be paying off. In early September the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that, since the switch, they’d answered 616,761 calls and seen a 45% increase in calls compared to the same month the previous year.1
Mental health professionals say that this increase in calls and increase in access can give us some key insights into the evolving state of mental health care in America.
The Proven Effectiveness of Hotline Promotion
This isn’t the first time the hotline’s usage has spiked. In 2017 a song named after the hotline’s previous number, 1-800-273-8255, performed by chart-topping artists Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid, led to an increased call volume.
Willow Goldfarb, LMHC, was a supervisor of both 211 and the lifeline at a Florida United Way call center during that period. She says that the song did mean the line got a lot of curious callers, teenagers and the like, but it also did a lot to raise awareness.
For her, the shortening of the number, and the increase in access, means that more people can be connected to these services, particularly in rural areas or those who are low-income, but it’s also important to keep in mind the limitations of a hotline.
What This Means For You
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now known as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and has seen a large increase in the number of calls being received since the change. The lifeline provides not just a number to call, but a text line, a system for those who are deaf/hard of hearing as well as veterans, and provides support in both English and Spanish."
*The change from the 1-800-273-8255 number to the 988 number has made emergency services more accessible and easier to remember. The data has proven that this change has worked and more people have reached out for help. I shared this article for others to know that you are never alone and there is always help when you need it. Please don't be afraid to reach out whenever you feel the need to! They are there any time of day for anything that may be on your mind! You're never alone! What other ways do you think we could increase access to Lifeline resources to help more people?*
#988 #Lifeline #SuicidePrevention
Please find the full article at Very Well Mind.
@fruityPond7887
I think it would help to include more languages.
Additionally, I have talked to people who have said they don't have a crises line in their country.
So, more accessibility in that regard would be great!💛💫
@innateJoy9602 Yeah I definitely agree! There are other languages in America besides Spanish and English and it needs to be worked on. Other countries also need to step up and create better resources for their citizens. Thank you for sharing!!