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• By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• Posted September 12, 2022

New 988 Suicide Hotline Sees Increase in Calls for Help

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a new suicide hotline using just the numbers 988 in July, and now new data shows calls climbed 45% compared to the same time last year.

"Our nation's transition to 988 moves us closer to better serving the crisis care needs of people across America," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement released Friday. "988 is more than a number, it's a message: we're there for you. The transition to 988 is just the beginning. We will continue working towards comprehensive, responsive crisis care services nationwide to save lives."

The lifeline call center received a total of 361,140 calls, chats and texts last month, according to performance data for August. It took an average of 42 seconds for each to be answered.

While about 12% of all were disconnected before they reached a counselor, about 88% reached a counselor, including 84% of calls, 97% of chats and 98% of texts.

Counselors spent an average of 18 minutes and 49 seconds on each call or text.

The numbers of calls, chats and texts was 152,000 more than the previous August and the wait time to reach a counselor was down from 2½ minutes.

"We want everyone to know that there is hope. Whether you're experiencing thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, there is compassionate, accessible care and support," Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance use and leader of HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said in the HHS statement. "With rising levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses -- and the devastating number of overdose deaths -- it is crucial that people have somewhere to turn when they're in crisis."

The decision to change the lifeline was made unanimously in 2020 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The FCC voted in 2021 to require text messages sent to 988 also be routed to the lifeline.

Suicide rates rose by 30% in the United States between 2000 and 2018, before declining in 2019 and 2020. Still, more than 46,000 people died by suicide in 2020, CNN reported.

It is the second leading cause of death among those aged 10-34, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

The new 988 service is "a first step towards a transformed crisis care system in much the same way as emergency medical services have expanded" in the United States, John Draper, the lifeline's executive director, told CNN.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more facts about suicide.

SOURCE: CNN