It looks like the new 988 mental health crisis hotline is already reaching more people in need and potentially saving lives. Federal data released by the Department of Health and Human Services shows a 45% increase in overall call volume last month, compared to the same period a year ago. New Jersey is reporting more than 8,500 calls, a 20% increase during the same period.
The department launched the new suicide prevention hotline in mid-July, replacing the old 10-digit number, and says the number of calls answered increased by 50%, from roughly 141,000 to 216,000. The federal government says the number of text messages answered went up 1,000%.
Response times were also improved, from 2.5 minutes to 42 seconds, a data point officials are using to show the transition is moving the agency closer to serving the crisis care needs of the country. Federal reports show suicide is one the country’s leading causes of death for people ages 10 to 34.
