In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

States have one year to facilitate 988, the country's first mental health crisis line. Yet, 47 states haven't passed legislation needed to support the new line by the July 16, 2022, deadline set by Congress. A new analysis by The Kennedy Forum shows only three states have passed adequate legislation to facilitate 988, the nation's first three‐digit number for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Last year, Congress unanimously passed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which created 988 as the universal number for the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline System, as an alternative to 911. States are running out of time to fund and implement important components of the system: 24/7 call centers staffed by mental health professionals, mobile response teams and crisis stabilization services that connect people to follow‐up care. According to The Kennedy Forum, constituents in states that have no 988 legislation in the works can contact their state representatives and ask them to introduce or pass a bill that includes 988 user fees. They can also contact their congressional representatives to ask them to support the state's response.