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988 offers lifeline in mental health crises

Mental health is a serious issue that many Americans face. But unfortunately, many are unaware of the resources at their disposal.
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Mental health is a serious issue that many Americans face. But unfortunately, many are unaware of the resources at their disposal. Resources like the new 988 hotline are specifically designed to help those suffering from mental health issues get in contact with the right people to talk to.

“It’s essentially the 911 of mental health,” said Michele Martin, Statesboro local and national training manager for the American Association of Suicidology. “The 988 number ensures that people that are trained in mental health issues are able to respond to the person and crisis for the person experiencing distress.”

The primary benefit of having a hotline like this is that it cuts out the "middleman" and gets people immediate access to the care they need.

The hotline reduces the reliance on law enforcement, public health, and other resources for individuals who maybe just need a professional to talk to.

“The fact is, is that there’s actually emergency services dispatched to a location in less than 2% of the calls that are received,” Martin said. “The goal is to provide emotional support, de-escalate situations, and link to your local services.”

It is possible for emergency services to be dispatched from the hotline, if the individual displays a desire, intent, has a plan, and has a means to carry out their plan. If all of those are not present, though, callers can expect to have a mental health professional helping them through their distress.

Calling for a friend or family member

You can also call or text 988 on behalf of a loved one you believe needs help.

“They might not necessarily trust someone on the phone,” Martin said. “But if the information was being relayed via their friend or their family member, which is someone they trust, then we can provide some emotional support.”

Martin lists some tell-tale signs someone can use to determine whether or not they should be concerned about someone's mental health status. These signs can include isolation, ceasing to participate in past hobbies, depression/anxiety, and significant changes in lifestyle, such as the loss of a job or loved one, and/or physical health.

Strength in seeking help

988 Hotline specialists are specially trained to help with a wide variety of issues. Some of these issues include help specifically for members of the LGBTQ community and African Americans, as well as any other groups.

But the resource is also there for people who may just be dealing with the day-to-day struggles of life or a specific event such as a job change or sexual assault.

Martin explains that any number of triggers, big or small, could snowball into more destructive mental health issues later down the line if not addressed early. This is a huge benefit of the 988 line.

“Many times, we have really large changes in our lives that cause us to be distressed,” she said. “It all comes down to coping skills. So if an individual does not have coping skills or does not have support, then any topic could lead somebody to consider suicide as an option.”

For many, just reaching out can be a journey in and of itself. The 988 Hotline’s primary mission is to help find a starting point in that journey. Martin believes that the introduction of the 988 resource has begun to help reduce stigma around discussing suicide and mental health.

“I think the first thing it does is start a conversation, a talking point,” Martin said. “the more you talk about it, the more it normalizes.”

About 988

In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 988 offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

When calling 988, callers first hear a greeting message while their call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center (based on the caller’s area code). A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, listens to the caller, understands how their problem is affecting them, provides support, and shares resources if needed.

If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller is automatically routed to a national backup crisis center. The Lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.

When someone texts to 988, they are responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. This service will expand over the next few years to increase local and state level response. Once you are connected, a crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Currently, texting is available in English only.

The hotline is a free service available to all. You can learn more here.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.