On July 16, the U.S. launched a new nationwide number to call when someone needs immediate mental health care. 988 will now replace the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK. Calls to the suicide hotline now roll over to 988 operators.
The primary goal of the new number is to make it easier for people to call for help. Lawmakers and mental health advocates also see this launch as an opportunity to transform the mental health care system and make care easily accessible everywhere in the United States. The Biden administration has invested more than $400 million in support of crisis centers and other mental health services to support the 988 system.
People trained in handling mental health crises will be on the receiving end of the 988 number at all times. Centerstone of Indiana is using $5 million in federal grants to establish mental health crisis teams that will be dispatched when warranted in Bloomington and the surrounding areas. If a local crisis center is too busy to respond right away, the call gets routed to one of 16 backup centers around the country.
In Indiana, 988 calls are being answered at three regional sites, with plans to expand to five. Calls from Monroe and surrounding counties will go to one of three call centers, including the center in Muncie, where operators will have access to local emergency mental health services and, eventually, the ability to dispatch a team of professionals if necessary.
Linda Grove-Paul, vice president of adult services at Centerstone Indiana, said a key goal of 988 is to have in-person, on-site care available for people experiencing a mental health emergency. “We’re working on our own mobile crisis teams that will be deployed out of the Stride Center here in Bloomington.”
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