The will expand to receive calls or texts sent to the newly created 9-8-8 emergency number. The shortened, easy-to-remember number is a means to connect directly with support for anyone who is experiencing any form of mental health-related distress 鈥� thoughts of suicide, emotional distress or substance-use crisis 鈥� or knows someone who is.
鈥淭his is such an important development,鈥� said Dr. Scott Walters, regents professor in the school of public health at The University of North Texas Health Science at Fort Worth. 鈥淚t removes one barrier by creating a single, easy-to-remember number people can call, text or chat to receive crisis care during their time of need.鈥�
The hotline was established to meet rapidly growing suicide and mental health crisis care needs. While this three-digit number won鈥檛 be replacing the Lifeline, it will provide easier access to a strengthened and expanded network of crisis centers.
When someone calls, texts or chats 988, they will be immediately connected to a trained counselor who is part of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline network, a national network of more than 200 local, independent and state-funded crisis centers equipped to help with emotional distress and suicidal crises.
鈥淢aking it easier for people to get crisis assistance with a trained counselor can help them manage these difficult moments,鈥� Walters said. 鈥淭he data shows that people feel less overwhelmed, depressed and suicidal after speaking to a trained professional for just a few minutes.鈥�
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Veteran Affairs to create 988. The Biden administration has invested a total of $432 million toward the transition to 988, including $177 million dedicated to strengthening and expanding existing Lifeline network operations and infrastructure, $105 million to help local crisis call centers and an additional $150 million as part of the , approved by Congress in June.
As of December, the Lifeline received approximately 3.3 million contacts in 2020 from phone calls, text messages and online chats. That number could balloon to 6 million to 12 million after the first year of 988鈥檚 implementation, climbing to between 13 million and 41 million by its fifth year, according to a from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The newly created number will come online during a time many in the mental health profession are characterizing as a mental health pandemic in the wake of COVID-19. People around the country 鈥� and world 鈥� still are grappling with isolation and loss from the past two-plus years.
Recent numbers suggest that adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder increased from 36.4% to 41.5% between August 2020 and February 2021.
People experiencing thoughts of suicide or any form of mental health crisis should call 9-8-8 starting on Saturday. The hotline also is available for anyone concerned about someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.