There’s been a steady increase in callers to New Jersey’s 988 suicide and crisis hotline since the 988 service was introduced nationwide in 2022, offering free and confidential emotional support for people in mental distress.
New Jersey has used funding from the general budget and other sources to keep the 988 service operational. But Gov. Phil Murphy is proposing a new, dedicated tax to support the service, one of many new taxes being pitched as part of his final spending plan in office.
“Governor Murphy has proposed a 40-cent fee on all phone lines, per line per month, that would essentially allow for this hotline to be funded consistently,” says Bobby Brier, mental health writer with NJ Spotlight News.
“This is something that mental health advocates have really said would support not only the hotline, but people who are in need of this support the most,” he said. “This is something that has really received bipartisan support, so many of the advocates and lawmakers that I’ve spoken to about this have been in favor of it and is seen as one of those taxes they wouldn’t mind having in light of all the other taxes on the table right now.”
This story is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
