Those needing emergency care services can now dial the new Suicide & Crisis Line. The 988 line was launched in Washington state on Saturday. The line can also receive text. The line began taking calls Saturday for people in need of mental health services. It is operational 24/7.
This is something states have been doing for a while. States across the nation have the new 988 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. States have been preparing for the change since it was approved in 2020, and last year Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1477, expanding resources for Washington’s crisis care call centers.
Funds were set aside for the three NSPL crisis centers to hire more staffers to handle the anticipated increase in demand. In addition, facilities across the nation trained more than 130 people to aid in the rollout, and are looking to hire nearly two dozen more.
Governor Inslee touted the new service stating that, “the same way 911 transformed our ability to respond to emergency safety or health situations, 988 will transform our ability to connect people to help in behavioral and mental health crisis situations.”
The way it goes is, anyone dialing 988 will allow anyone experiencing suicidal ideation or mental health crisis to more easily get help by phone or text 24/7, and also allows loved ones to find help for those who may need support. Calls are also available in Spanish, and interpretation is extended to more than 250 languages.
