In a short period of time, 988 hotline has proven its worth
Due in great part to the efforts of a bipartisan group of lawmakers like Rep. Seth Moulton, D-mass., millions of Americans have called and texted the national 988 suicide-prevention hot line since its launch less than two years ago.
When Marine Capt. Moulton returned home from four combat tours in Iraq, he realized firsthand the scars sustained from his service went beyond the physical.
He also dealt with bouts of post-traumatic stress disorder, a common mental health complication experienced by countless service men and women.
But the reluctance of many to publicly admit the presence of this invisible malady prevented them from receiving the help they desperately needed.
As a member of Congress, Moulton sought a solution to this vicious cycle of needless guilt and self-doubt. He found it by successfully building a coalition of more than 180 lawmakers who coauthored national mental health hotline legislation, so that people from all backgrounds could anonymously seek the assistance of professional mental health care advisers.
And since the rollout in July 2022 of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, mental health experts say it has been an effective tool in combating a worsening behavioral health crisis in this country.
With the support of millions in annual federal funds, that 988 number has received and routed approximately 8.6 million calls, texts and chats, including more than 507,000 contacts in January alone, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Even so, backers of the system say more investment of money and resources is required to expand the program’s life-saving reach.
“It has been extraordinarily successful, and has literally saved thousands of lives,” Moulton said. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot more we can do to ensure more people know it exists.”
The 24/7 service is an extension of the previous national lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. Its goal is to make that 988 number as recognizable as the local 911 emergency service.
The latest monthly data show that texts and chats are popular hotline options — with 80,218 texts and 56,194 chats comprising more than 31% of the 429,337 contacts made by the 988 system in December, according to the department’s data.
At least 88% of calls were answered with the average response time of 32 seconds, the agency’s data for December show. About 12% of calls were “abandoned” before being engaged by a counselor.
Millions of Americans struggle with mental health conditions each year, and the number of people seeking care continues to trend upward.
A 2021 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 4.8% of adults ages 18 or older — about 12.3 million people — had serious thoughts of suicide. Among adolescents 12 to 17, 12.7% — about 3.3 million — had serious thoughts of suicide, the report found.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The CDC’S preliminary 2022 data show 49,449 people died by suicide, an increase of approximately 2.6% from the previous year.
While certainly more can be done to make this system an even more effective lifesaver, let’s not lose sight of the outstanding work being done daily.
Tayrn Carpenter, who directs a 988 hotline near Boston, recently told reporters that her region has experienced a significant increase in the volume of calls since the new, easy-to-remember 988 national crisis line came online.
“We receive a variety of calls, from lowrisk folks who just need some companionship, to people who are at eminent risk and need deescalation,” she said. “Our answer rate is over 95%, and we aim not to keep anyone on hold, so we have a threshold of 120 seconds to answer the call and get them in touch with an agent.”
Her center is staffed by about 30 volunteers fielding calls routed through the 988 line. After an initial assessment to gauge the caller’s situation, they’re transferred to crisis counselors familiar with mental health resources, who can provide referrals to local services.
Carpenter said one of the tougher aspects of the work is that once a call or text is answered and routed to a mental health professional or other specialists, there isn’t a lot of feedback available about the outcome.
“It’s like you’re planting the seeds, but never seeing the garden grow,” she said. “But we’ve had people call back just to say thank you for helping them out of a dark spot or getting the help they needed.”
We applaud the empathy and professionalism of volunteers and staff who have undoubtedly saved countless tormented souls from ending what seemed a life not worth living.
Editor’s note: If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 988lifeline.org. They provide free and confidential support for people in distress.