Photo: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - September 9, 2024


Yesterday, communities nationwide joined together for the first annual 988 Day on September 8, 2024, hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

This year marks the kickoff of a new, annual tradition that raises awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and mental health support. Each year, the theme will be different. The 2024 theme is “No Judgment. Just Help.”

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which launched in July 2022, offers a shorter and easier-to-remember alternative to the 10-digit National Suicide and Prevention Hotline (as it was known then). It was initially proposed in 2019 by the Federal Trade Commission.

At the time of launch, Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin said, “It's not that there weren't suicide hotlines that existed prior to that, but they were typically ten-digit numbers. And people didn't know about them. People certainly hadn't memorized these numbers on the off chance that they had a loved one or somebody in crisis or had a crisis themselves."

When someone calls or texts 988, they are triaged to the closest Lifeline Center based on the area code they're calling or texting from. There are four Lifeline Centers that answer calls in Minnesota, and two state organizations that respond to texts and chats. (Learn more about where calls/texts go here.) Councilors who are specifically trained in addressing mental health and suicidal crises are available 24/7 and will respond appropriately based on the caller's needs. Some possible outcomes are de-escalation, providing coping skills, and finding local resources. 

What the data shows

In August 2022, Boreal Community Media contacted the Minnesota Department of Health to learn more about Lifeline usage a month after its launch. At that time, calls to the 988 Lifeline had increased 44% compared to usage between June 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022. 

In September 2022, the Minnesota Department of Health released data showing that calls to 988 had increased 44% since launch. By the end of the year, MDH reported that 30,000 calls had been received, which was a 154% increase from 2021 (Minnesota did not release chat or text capabilities until April 2023). In 2023, 53,325 calls, texts, and chats were received, which was a 74% increase from 2022.

In January 2023, the Associated Press stated that nationally, over two million calls, texts, or chats were received. In September 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that the 988 Lifeline had received over 5.5 million calls, texts, and chats.

Two years after its initial launch, over 10 million calls, texts, and chats were received by the 988 Lifeline nationally. 

Throughout the past 20 years, deaths by suicide have increased in Minnesota, reflecting a national trend. Although there was a small dip in numbers during the pandemic, 2021 and 2022 showed another increase. In newly released data, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that deaths by suicide decreased in 2023. MDH released a 2023-2027 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan, part of which relies on the 988 Lifeline as an important component for suicide prevention and for those in a mental health crisis. 

988 Lifeline Expansion

Since its launch, 988 Lifeline has branched off or partnered with other organizations to offer specific support for various communities. Shortly after its July 2022 roll-out, Veterans could press "1" after dialing 988, connecting them to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. Of the 10 millions calls, texts, and chats the 988 Lifeline has received since its inception, 1.2 million calls were sent to the Veterans Crisis Line. 

Only six months after launch, the number of Spanish-speaking Lifeline Centers grew from three to seven. A year after its initial launch, the 988 Lifeline was able to provide translation services for over 240 languages through Language Line Solutions.

September 2023 was a big month for service expansion, with text and chat services serving Spanish-speaking callers were added. That same month, specialized services for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults were added. Additionally, ASL options were added for those who are Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened. 

Funding 

While some federal funding was available to help initially rollout the 988 Lifeline, most of the funding had to come from each state itself. 

When interviewed in August 2022, Erin McHenry of the Minnesota Department of Health told Boreal Community Media that $1.3 million in state funding was going directly to support Lifeline Centers. MDH also received $1.8 million, or $922k a year, from the federal government for the next two years.  

In July 2023, Minnesota Lawmakers approved an up to $.25 telecom fee for any 988 call, which took affect September 1, 2024 - similar to what already exists for 911 calls. Starting this month, landline and cell phone consumers will have a telephone fee on their monthly bill for $.12 for 988, along with an $.80 cent 911 fee. According to Mental Health Minnesota, this monthly fee is estimated to bring in around $10 million annually to support Minnesota's 988 Lifeline Centers. 

Additional federal funding has come from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and money from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Collectively, over $1.5 billion has been invested into states, territories, and tribes, according to HHS. 

In January 2023, the US Department of HHS through SAMHSA, awarded "$21.1 million in 988 Lifeline Tribal Response Grants and technical assistance to improve 988 response in tribal communities, which face unique challenges to accessing technology and crisis services." MDH received $1 million of that money for Minnesota tribes. 

If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal ideation, you are not alone, and help is available. “No Judgment. Just Help.” Call or text 988. Learn more here.