988 Rolls out July 16, 2022. Will it be in Your State?
The new, national three-digital number, 988, is set to launch July 16, 2022. However, only 20 states have committed and many of those haven’t marked the level of funding required for success.
The new, easy to remember, 988 aims to make it easier for those in mental health crises to gain access to appropriate interactions with intervention services and avoid confrontation with police.
While suicide rates and incidence of self-harm have steadily increased over the past decade, our response and ability to handle such crises have not kept pace. Today roughly 10% of police calls are for mental health emergencies. By redirecting these calls to 988, we take an important step to decriminalizing mental health events and increase the likelihood of a person in crises reaching appropriate care without the risk of handcuffs.
One in five Americans will experience a mental health condition this year. Over 50% will experience one in their lifetime. Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) has been the administrator of the lifeline since it’s inception in 2005. According to Vibrant, 280 people seriously contemplate suicide for every suicide loss. This leans to the evidence that support in the moment saves lives. We’ve long past the crux point of providing readily accessible, 24/7, localized help. Providing highly visible, nationwide resources helps end the stigma and above all, save lives.
When the 988 National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law in 2020 it directed the FCC to designate the number 988 for the national suicide and behavioral health crisis center.
So, what’s the holdup? States have expressed concern about ongoing funding and confusion about the difference between 911 and 988. Vibrant has provided educational services to help bridge the gap and provide clarity. In addition, a provision of the Act allows states to assess a fee on telecommunications bills to recover the costs related to 988 and associated crisis services. This fee operates similarly to how fees now support 911 in most states.
What can you do? Write. Call. Tell your legislators ending the stigma and enacting 988 to provide localized, 24/7 services to those in crisis matters to you.
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