9-8-8: After 3 Years, A New Suicide Lifeline Has Finally Been Launched Nationwide
In 2020, over forty-five thousand people took their own lives in the U.S. alone. The battle against the mental health epidemic has not been a linear one.
But now, one significant milestone has finally been reached.
As of this past Saturday, any American suffering from suicidal thoughts can now dial 988 and be connected with mental health professionals.
“If you call 988, you will get not just a live voice but a professional counselor ready to speak with you, give you some guidance and support, and give you the follow-up you might need,” said Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services Secretary.
This new and improved hotline– now known as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline– was first conceptualized by President Biden in 2020 after people across the country voiced their concerns regarding extremely long call-waiting times.
So, over the past three years, the Biden administration has allocated $423 million toward the revitalization of this crucial mental health service.
Their efforts focused on two key areas. First, decreasing the once ten-digit hotline number to only three digits for easier memorability and access.
Second, the unification of “loose” call centers in order to create more cohesion within the system and rid callers of ridiculous wait times.
“The last thing we want is for 988 to be a phone call you make and, all of a sudden, you find that you’re put on hold and get a busy signal,” Becerra explained.
A_B_C – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
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And while these necessary changes did take time to coordinate throughout all states, territories, and tribal governments, the lifeline is now available for nationwide use as of July 16.
As for the large investment, Becerra explained how human lives are priceless.
“People are not too worried about the price tag. It is quite literally the cost of saving lives,” he said.
Now, raising awareness about the new lifeline and its accessibility is essential. The service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, nationwide.
Its website, 988lifeline,org, is also home to a plethora of resources for numerous demographics– including individuals with neurodivergence, disaster survivors, veterans, youth, LGBTQ+ community members, and more.
To learn more about the lifeline, you can visit the website linked here.
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