Call 911!…Well, not anymore for suicidal ideation. There is a new suicide hotline number. The 988 (Suicide Hotline) number represented a major frontier breakthrough for our country in 2022, but there’s more that professionals should know about beyond the three digits.
The number does not actually take effect until July 16, 2022. On that date, it will be linked to the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-283-8255).
Currently, 988 is owned by SAMHSA and will also be funded by them. In July, however, the number will be both managed and funded on a state-by-state level. Many states are still seeking contractors and operators. For states that are unprepared, the federal Lifeline and its call centers will be a backup. The roll out will continue whether states are ready or not.
Expect these two effects from the rollout of 988:
- Raised awareness of mental health issues, and likely more referrals
- Replacement of referrals from other channels
- A Manager’s Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace
- Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
- Adolescent Suicide Attempt Prevention: Predictors of Response to a Cognitive-Behavioral Family and Youth Centered Intervention
- Children and Mental Health – Depression and Suicide in Children and Adolescents
- Effectiveness of Brief Psychological Interventions for Suicidal Presentations: A Systematic Review
- Essential Questions on Suicide Bereavement and Postvention
- Jail Suicide
- Improving Care to Prevent Suicide Among People with Serious Mental Illness