Suicide hotline 988 looks back at year, raises concerns for future

August 17, 2023

By: Sage Kelly

The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline began in July of 2022, looking to battle the ever-growing suicide rates head-on with ease and efficiency of a ‘911’ type system. Following a year of services, mental health officials discussed the successes, and shortcomings, of the national system.

The Association of Health Care Journalists held a webinar on Thursday to discuss 988’s first-year statistics and the questions that still remain going forward.

‘As a nation, we are in a vast public health crisis when it comes to mental health,’ said Vincent Atchity, President and CEO of Mental Health Colorado. ‘There’s a pediatric state of emergency when it comes to mental health.’

Read the full article in The Gazette