Mental health experts say Florida needs much more than just additional staffing at its crisis call centers. In May, the federal government allocated another $200 million in new funding that states will receive later this year to build local capacity for 988 and related crisis services. Some of the biggest problems are a need for awareness of the three-digit hotline, along with long-term funding to boost staff at the crisis centers. Many challenges still lie ahead for the national mental health network. “They may call feeling embarrassed, but once I self disclose it makes the process easier and helps me de-escalate quicker.” Florida needs a lot more mental health services “The benefit is people feel connected to me,” she said. She can now disclose to callers that she once was in their shoes, also in crisis mode, and currently in recovery from mental illness. Mann-Kelly, 58, says the shift to 988 allowed her to answer Broward calls as a peer support specialist, people with “lived expertise” who are prioritized as call recipients. Now, the federal government and Lifeline partners announced the addition of Spanish text and chat services as of July, as well as specialized services for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults. Since its launch in July 2022, more than 5 million calls, chats and texts have been routed to 988, that’s 2 million more than the previous 12 months before the three-digit number and a federal investment. On a national scale, the 988 Lifeline encountered record demand in the past year. A big part of the makeover of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was to lessen the reliance on law enforcement or emergency departments to handle mental health crises. The help line is a free service available at all hours, day or night, for anyone who needs support. A lot of people are feeling very alone in this connected world and since COVID it has gotten worse.” 988 is not only for emergenciesĪ person doesn’t need to be in crisis or suicidal to call 988 and speak with a counselor. “People are having issues with relationship dynamics, and feelings of isolation. “Every call is different, but the majority of time people are overwhelmed and in distress,” she said. She may send the troubled caller a list of nearby therapists, dispatch a mobile crisis team, suggest inpatient services or even connect them to 911 or emergency services if they mention a weapon or pills. With mental illness on the rise, the hotline operator spends most of her workday finding the right intervention for callers in crisis, gauging whether they just need someone to listen or if they are actively in the process of trying to take their own life. “We are doing better than some states, and worse than others.”įor Mann-Kelly, the calls are non-stop. “We have made a lot of progress, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Gayle Giese, president of the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition. Florida relied on a patchwork of funding, with some counties more ready than others for the surge in volume projected. Some states had created dedicated ways to pay for more staff and upgrade technology to support their 988 call systems.
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