Suicide Prevention Lifeline changes to 988

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Suicide Prevention Lifeline will be available by dialing 988 across the United States, starting July 16. Call centers are being set up all across the nation to connect members of each community with counselors who will listen, provide support and connect them with resources. Mental Health Association, located in Westport, was just approved to be the 988 call center for Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton counties. When New York state put out a request for proposals, the Mental Health Association applied, along with two downstate organizations. Terri Morse, the director of community services in Essex County, said these four counties already have such strong working relationships, it will be helpful to have the call center local. "I could see a downstate call center being frustrated by the lack of services," Morse said. "And it's so second nature to us that we know how to get around it." The hotline is not just for suicide prevention. "It's going to be important for the call center to know all of the resources available in those four counties," Morse said. "Where would you send somebody from Hamilton County that was saying, 'I don't have any food?' That's not suicide-related, but to them, it's a crisis." One of the main purposes for 988 is to drive mental health and social determinants of health-related crises away from 911. When someone calls the number, the call center will provide support in the moment, assess the situation and triage the crisis. "I think a valuable piece of it is talking to the person in the moment and possibly preventing suicide or assisting them with getting hospitalized," Valerie Ainsworth, executive director of Mental Health Association in Essex County, said. "The call just doesn't end there." The difference between 988 and 911 is 988 connects callers with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and other crisis resources, while 911 dispatches emergency medical services, fire and police. 988 will "help reduce unnecessary use of law enforcement and other safety resources in crisis response," the New York State Office of Mental Health said in their 988 Updates and Education newsletter. "The North Country is uniquely rural. There are a lot of other places that are rural, but they're not quite the same as the North Country," Ainsworth said. "The North Country does have a scarcity of services, but that scarcity has created a collaboration and really strong relationships, working even across county lines that we feel is the most beneficial to the people that we serve." In addition to the call center, Mental Health Association provides mobile crisis response, care coordination services, supported employment, education and housing services and a 24-hour warm line. A warm line is a free emotional support service that aims to intervene before the caller is in crisis. They are also currently working on starting a crisis residence. This will be a 28-day program where someone in crisis can take respite from the environment that is causing them to be in crisis. "There's staff available to assist them with setting goals, creating a safety plan for them," Ainsworth said. "They will continue to engage in whatever they're doing in the community." People utilizing the residence won't be required to stay the 28 days, that is just the maximum. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is currently 800-273-8255, support will still be available via this number, even after 988 is launched.

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Suicide Prevention Lifeline changes to 988

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