Now there is a simple way to get the mental health support you need!
Starting July 16th the new 988 hotline allows individuals easy access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and mental health resources. There has been a hotline available at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK). However, the odds of remembering this number, much less remembering it existed in a crisis, have been low. 988 has been two years in the making! The telecommunications industry has worked diligently to change our dialing plans to allow this lifeline to go live.
Did you know that 988 is not just for someone who is suicidal?
Mental health affects every aspect of our lives: how we feel about ourselves and the world; solve problems, cope with stress, and overcome challenges; build relationships and connect with others; and perform in school, work, and throughout life. Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and is an essential component of overall health.1 As a nation, we are beginning to destigmatize and address mental health issues long before they reach the point of contemplating suicide.
To learn more about the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration's 988 resources and information, visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988.
Did you know that 988 supports texting and chat?
The FCC expanded the scope of the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to include the ability to text 988 to directly reach the Lifeline to better support at-risk communities in crisis, including youth and individuals with disabilities. The use of texting and chat has exploded, and the states are working hard to support the demand. Several states, including our home state of Colorado, are increasing funding to handle the new functionality.
1 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020 May 28). What is Mental Health? MentalHealth.gov. Accessed on November 10, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth. gov/basics/what-is-mental-health