Nearly $105 Million to Boost Crisis Call Center Services Capacities
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By Nicole Dufour
Some 54 states and territories will receive $105 million in grant funds to help reinforce crisis care infrastructure before July 16, when the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will convert from a 10-digit phone number to a new 988 three-digit dialing code. The funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
"Providing states and territories with the support to prevent suicide by assisting people in crisis is critical to our nation's health. It is imperative that states and territories partner closely with HHS to ensure the highest level of 988 contact response,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release.
The funds will be used, among other things, to improve crisis response rates, broaden capacity to meet demand, and ensure proper call routing to local, regional, and state crisis call centers. The funding may also help increase crisis care workforce numbers for better local text and chat response.
In 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the second-highest cause of death among Americans aged 10-14 and 25-34. SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 4.9 percent of adults 18 or older seriously considered suicide, while 12 percent of adolescents – age 12 to 17 – thought seriously of suicide.
When not using the 10-digit lifeline number, families and individuals in mental health crises often had to call 911, regardless of criminal activity. In 2020, Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, leading to the new 988 code.
SAMHSA is working with national partners to help advance 988 planning efforts at state and local levels. The collaboration recently generated various playbooks and other guidance documents to assess and improve operational readiness and support the implementation of 988. These are available on the SAMHSA 988 web page.
Until 988 launches in July, anyone in a mental health crisis or emotional distress should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). People not in crisis seeking treatment options for mental health conditions should visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).