NORFOLK, Va. — July marks the second anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launch across the nation.
As the nation continues to grapple with a mental health crisis, this critical hotline has proven to be a lifesaver. Since its inception, 10 million people have used it to connect with a counselor on the phone to get immediate help.
“The important thing is to be able to reach out to someone you trust and tell them you don’t feel right,” said Bruce Cruser from Mental Health America of Virginia.
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When the National Suicide Prevention lifeline first switched over to the new quick dial 988 system, calls jumped from around 50,000 to 77,000 a year, according to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health. However, many callers reported problems early on, like being put on hold for over 15 minutes.
Many of the system’s kinks are being worked out, though. According to the latest data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, of the people who contacted 988 this year, 68% said they got the help they needed. It's a 13% jump from 2023.
But there’s still work to be done.
According to the same data, only 23% of the population is familiar with what 988 is and the response someone would receive when reaching out for help.
Comparing it to the evolution of the 911 system, that’s taken decades to get to where it is today, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing CEO said it’s a “marathon, not a sprint,” adding that we are just two years in.