On December 10, 2024, Vibrant Emotional Health’s (Vibrant) Public Policy & Government Affairs (PPGA) department and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) hosted an insightful webinar titled Spreading Hope: Missouri’s 988 Community Awareness and Engagement Initiative & Insights from Evaluation Data. The session attracted a strong turnout, with over 150 individuals registered and 98 attendees joining live. Participants represented various organizations, including crisis centers, state health departments, mental health organizations, and other stakeholders in the mental health space.
The webinar highlighted Missouri’s proactive efforts to increase awareness and understanding of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline). Since its national launch in 2022, the Missouri 988 Lifeline team has worked tirelessly to educate communities and amplify awareness of this vital resource. The Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) led a statewide 988 Lifeline awareness campaign, emphasizing its role as a life-saving tool for anyone in crisis or emotional distress.
To ensure their messaging was effective and resonated with communities across Missouri, DMH partnered with the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH) to conduct comprehensive evaluation efforts. These efforts included surveys and focus groups to assess public awareness, knowledge, and use of 988. Additionally, the evaluations involved engaging with various communities across Missouri to gather feedback and better understand perceptions of the 988 Lifeline.
The webinar also spotlighted specific initiatives in the St. Louis area, where local organizations have taken innovative approaches to promote the 988 Lifeline. Through their collaboration, DMH and MIMH gained valuable insights into how Missourians view and use 988, which will help refine and enhance future outreach and education strategies.
For those who registered for the webinar, a copy of the slide deck, a recording of the webinar, and a Q&A document from the session will be emailed in the coming weeks. These materials will provide an opportunity to revisit the valuable information shared during the session or catch up for those who could not attend live. They will also be available on Vibrant’s PPGA website under the “Resources” section, listed under “Webinars.”
At Vibrant Emotional Health, we remain dedicated to supporting initiatives like Missouri’s 988 awareness campaign that aim to improve mental health resources and accessibility. Stay tuned for future webinars and updates as we work together to spread hope and enhance mental health resources nationwide.