Last year, a friend commit suicide, and as a result I wrote a post on Suicide Prevention. At that time, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was an 800 number. To make it easier for those who needed help, the 988 number was created to be the “911” call for mental health, crisis and suicide prevention. This new number went into effect nationwide in July.
With 988 has come a number of social media posts about the safety of making that call.
This past week, NPR released a story Social media posts warn people not to call 988. Here's what you need to know.
The concern being raised by some advocates, as well as those with personal experience, centers around the risk of police involvement, involuntary hospitalizations, certain groups (e.g. GLBT, minorities) feel as if they are more likely to be forced into treatment, and still others feel let down by the person responding for the hotline, or in some cases, felt like it made things worse.
According to John Draper, executive director 0f the 988 hotline, and noted in the NPR article, "We know the best way for a person to remain safe from harm is for them to be empowered and to choose to be safe from harm," Draper said. Dispatching police is a last resort, he said. Counselors who answer the phones or respond to texts and online chats for 988 are supposed to be trained to actively listen, discuss the callers' concerns and wishes, and collaborate with them to find solutions. Most calls about suicide are de-escalated without law enforcement Draper said. Instead, counselors talk through people's reasons for dying and reasons for living; have callers connect with supportive family, friends, religious leaders or others in their community; refer callers to outpatient treatment; or set up follow-up calls with 988.
Only when the caller cannot or will not collaborate on a safety plan and the counselor feels the caller will harm themselves imminently should emergency services be called, according to the hotline's policy. At that point, Draper said, "we have the choice of just letting [harm] happen or doing whatever we can to keep them safe."
While the NPR article concluded that it depends on your situation regarding the safety of calling 988, if you are unsure, below are some options and further reading you can do.
A warm line may be an option: A warmline is a phone number you call to have a conversation with someone who can provide support during hard times. Whether you’re in crisis or just need someone to talk to, a warmline can help. Warmlines are staffed by trained peers who have been through their own mental health struggles and know what it’s like to need help.
Warmlines are free and confidential. They’re different from crisis lines or hotlines like the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which are more focused on keeping you safe in the moment and getting you connected to crisis resources as quickly as possible. (That doesn’t mean you can’t call a warmline when you’re in crisis—a warmline may even be able to help you find the best place to go for crisis resources, or help you mentally prepare to seek out more formal treatment.)
If you are in crisis and a warmline can’t provide the level of support you need, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or using the chat box at 988lifeline.org. You can also text “MHA” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Click here to find a warm line in your state.
The following links may be helpful in deciding who to call or where to go for help
Do I need to go to the hospital?
Who makes mental health decisions for me if I can’t?
What happens if I call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline? 988
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