SAMHSA releases toolkit for 988 crisis line partners
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration yesterday released a toolkit to help health care providers and others prepare for the July 16 launch of 988, the new phone number for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health or substance use crisis to speak, text or chat with a trained crisis counselor. Authorized by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, the three-digit number will operate through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline鈥檚 network of over 200 crisis centers.
鈥淚n the longer term, our vision is to build a robust crisis care response system across the country that links callers to community-based providers who can deliver a full range of crisis care services, if needed (like mobile crisis teams or stabilization centers),鈥 SAMHSA notes.
To access the toolkit and other suicide prevention resources, visit SAMHSA鈥檚 new .