On July 16, 2024, the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (the Lifeline) celebrated its second anniversary with a special webinar hosted in collaboration with Mental Health America (MHA). Since the Lifeline transitioned to the easy-to-remember 988 dialing code in July 2022, a change that significantly improved its accessibility and ease of use, it has played a pivotal role in providing support to individuals experiencing suicide, mental health, and substance use crises across the country.
Hosted by Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant)’s AVP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, Laura Evans, the webinar not only highlighted the Lifeline’s progress over the past two years and its additions to its services but also underscored its profound impact on countless lives, inspiring hope and a sense of purpose in the audience.
The esteemed speakers were Monica Johnson, Director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a key figure in the coordination and implementation of the Lifeline, and Dr. Tia Dole, Chief 988 Officer at Vibrant Emotional Health, a leading expert in mental health crisis response and a driving force behind the Lifeline’s success.
During the webinar, participants learned that over the past two years, the Lifeline has connected even more people to care, answering 10 million calls, chats, and texts – nearly 6 million calls, almost 1.7 million texts, and over 1.3 million chats answered. These interactions have provided immediate support, saved countless lives, and improved the mental health of many.
In addition, the Lifeline has made significant strides in expanding access to care, particularly for underserved communities. This includes answering nearly 110,000 Spanish-language calls, texts, and chats; over 475,000 LGBTQI+ youth and young adults contacts; and 20,000 Videophone contacts answered in American Sign Language (ASL) for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Over the past two years, nearly $1.5 billion in investments from the Biden-Harris Administration have strengthened and expanded the 988 Lifeline capacity and services, demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
When looking at state legislation since July 2022, participants learned that ten states had instituted a 988 fee, a crucial funding source, to support the 988 Lifeline Crisis Centers in their states. This financial support is instrumental in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of our crisis intervention services. Eight states have also strengthened crisis care insurance coverage, seven are studying financing or gaps in crisis system capacity, and 30 states have passed appropriations for at least one of the core three crisis care services: someone to talk to (24/7 crisis call centers), someone to respond to crises (mobile crisis teams), and somewhere to go (crisis stabilization programs).
During the webinar, participants also learned about some critical goals for 2024-2025, including:
- Improvements to call routing (georouting to begin in fall 2024)
- National paid marketing
- Continued improvement of operational response (addressing challenges)
- Improved transparency of 988 outcomes (including quality of service and suicidal behavior)
- Standardization of contact documentation and reporting (data visualization)
- Continued expansion of local chat and text
- Improving data collection for people in crisis (substance use, EMS vs. police, demographics)
- Raising awareness and building trust in 988
The webinar also emphasized the importance of continued investment in mental health resources and the development of the Lifeline. Watch the full webinar recording here and learn more about the 988 Lifeline’s two-year journey. Join the celebration as we continue to advocate for accessible, compassionate mental health care for all.