SAMHSA's new 988 “lifeline” not just for suicide

Abstract

This month the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is beginning the transition from the 10‐digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) to the three‐digit 988. This number is not just for suicide, but all kinds of mental health and other crises. The launch follows a three‐year joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make crisis care more available and is part of President Biden's strategy to address the mental health crisis in the country. The cost was $432 million. Initially, the investment was only $24 million.