Topline
A new national suicide prevention hotline will launch Saturday across all U.S. states and territories, allowing those in need to dial 988 on their phones to be connected with someone who can provide help during a mental and emotional health crisis — a development that comes amid an uptick in suicide rates among Black, Latino and American Indian people.
After two years of transitioning from the old number, the “988” universal suicide crisis hotline … [+]
Key Facts
Calls to 988 will be redirected to the original suicide prevention number (1-800-273-8255) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers.
The line will also be better equipped to help callers facing mental health and emotional health challenges, not just suicidal thoughts, according to the New York Times.
Callers can ask for advice about someone else, according to the Times.
Originally announced and supported by Congress in 2020, the purpose of introducing 988 was to destigmatize mental health services by making the mental health hotline a memorable, 3-digit number similar to the emergency crisis hotline, 911.
A total of 21 states have enacted legislation to fund and implement 988 as the suicide and crisis lifeline, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy, but all states are required to make the number transition regardless of legislation by the July 16 deadline.
BIG NUMBER
$105 million. That’s how much the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration distributed across 54 states and territories with the intent they would improve response rates, increase capacity and staffing and ensure calls initiated in their states or territories are first routed to crisis centers within those states.
KEY BACKGROUND
Between 1999 and 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found age-adjusted suicide mortality rates in the United States increased by 33%. In 2016, the CDC reported that suicide was the second-leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds. Around 2018, suicide rates hit a 50-year high and began dropping in 2019. Though suicide rates declined in 2019 and 2020, it was the cause of 46,000 deaths, the CDC reported, amid the period of social isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
CRUCIAL QUOTE
“We want you to know that if you are suffering severe stress and emotional trauma, if you aren’t sure where to go, even if it’s not at a point of suicide, we want you to call,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.
SURPRISING FACT
Black adolescents faced an increase in suicide attempts between 1991 and 2019, and American Indian and Alaska Natives have the highest reported suicide rates among any ethnic group.
TANGENT
This year alone, suicide claimed the lives of Oscar-winning actress Regina King’s son, former Miss USA and entertainment news correspondent Cheslie Kryst and country music singer Naomi Judd.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Services specific to LGBTQIA+ youth through the new suicide crisis hotline are to come, according to the Washington Post.
FURTHER READING
Youth Suicide Attempts Dropped In States With LGBTQ Hate Crime Laws, Study Finds (Forbes)
Why Are More Black Americans Committing Suicide? (Forbes)
States prepare for summer launch of new 988 suicide prevention number (CNN)
The National Suicide Prevention hotline number is changing (TODAY)
Experts hope LGBTQ youth will call 988 — a new suicide lifeline number (The Washington Post)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/darreonnadavis/2022/07/13/national-suicide-hotline-launches-this-weekend-those-in-need-can-dial-988/