People who are in a mental health crisis deserve a mental health response, not a criminal justice response.
“9-8-8 will be a tremendous resource for people in crisis and their families. But 9-8-8 also provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the way our communities respond to mental health and suicide crises,” said National Alliance on Mental Illness CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. The new nationwide crisis lifeline will raise visibility and advocate for meaningful change to ensure everyone in crisis gets the help they need.
The direct three-digit line to trained counselors will open the door for millions of Americans to seek the help they need, while sending the message to the country that “you matter, real people matter” and that hope and help are happening every day. The new phone number is also intended to be an alternative to dialing 9-1-1 in a mental health emergency, in which law enforcement would be dispatched to your home. People who are in a mental health crisis deserve a mental health response, not a criminal justice response.
Too often, people fear reaching out for help because they either don’t wish to be a burden to someone else, or they fear the stigma of being identified as suicidal. As this system is both easy-to-use and confidential, counselors are able to engage people in ways that enable them to feel safe and confident about moving forward. To be able to connect to someone trained who offers comfort in chaos can be all it takes.
The hope with 9-8-8 is that those who are in a mental health crisis will be able to be receive fast and safe help. Here’s everything you need to know about using 9-8-8:
Who are You Dialing When You Call 9-8-8?
As of July 16, when you dial 9-8-8 from anywhere in the country, on the other end of the phone, you will first hear a greeting message and then you’ll be directed to a crisis counselor at a local call center based on your area code. If for some reason the call center does not have capacity to take your call, you will be directed to the national backup center.
Each center is independently operated, but most centers employ a mix of staff and volunteers. All centers train all of their call takers with an average of 90 hours of training.
Solari and La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center in Tempe were selected as the state contractors to manage Arizona’s new 9-8-8 suicide prevention crisis line service in Arizona. Solari will be handling the crisis hotline and mobile crisis dispatch for Central and Northern Arizona with the assistance of other community mental health providers in those regions. Solari already manages the 2-1-1 state resource hotline system.
Will Someone Be Dispatched to Your Home or Current Location?
If needed. The goal is that people who call 9-8-8 get the help that they need and, in most cases, that means the situation can be de-escalated over the phone. Crisis counselors will also connect callers with follow-up services and resources. A 2019 analysis of the crisis system in Tucson showed that 80% of crisis-line calls were resolved without dispatching a mobile crisis team, law enforcement or emergency medical services. If in-person help is needed, then a mobile crisis unit would be called in. Those working on mobile crisis teams are behavioral health professionals (e.g. social workers, peer specialists and family peer advocates). Eventually, the goal is to be nationally equipped to dispatch specially trained responders to all crisis locations when needed.
Does it Cost Anything to Call 9-8-8?
No, it will never cost a person to call the lifeline. The 9-8-8 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline resource is funded through federal, state and local funds. QCBN
By Deanna Eder
Deanna Eder is the director of marketing and communications for Polara Health polarahealth.com 928-445-5211.
Polara Health Crisis
Stabilization Unit
8655 E. Eastridge Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Leave a Reply