Beginning on July 16, 2022 a new 988 suicide and crisis lifeline was released throughout the United States. In the state of New Jersey, 988 will offer “compassionate, accessible care and support” to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance abuse crisis. With our focus on mental health and addiction services, Oaks remains dedicated to informing you about the changing status of mental health resources in the US. Here is what you need to know about the new lifeline:
Designated by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 lifeline will directly route callers to mental health services for people in distress and crisis. The free, 24/7, and confidential support offered by the lifeline is designed to provide quicker access with an easy-to-remember number. Individuals can call or text the hotline to speak directly with counselors trained on listening, understanding problems, providing support, and connecting to resources.
Not only was the lifeline established to revive the mental health care system, but it strives to increase the accessibility to care throughout the US. With the majority of individuals dialing 911 in a crisis situation, the line is often overrun with a variety of emergencies and experiences. Despite its importance, 911 was not designed to address mental health needs, resulting in many callers facing hectic hospital emergency rooms or law enforcement which may not provide the proper care.
To counteract this challenge, 988 connects callers with mental health assistance right away. The lifeline will send the caller to a trained counselor at a crisis center closest to them. If that local center is unable to support the caller for any reason, then the caller will be rerouted to the second nearest support center.
The 988 lifeline signifies one big step forward in prioritizing mental health services and proper care throughout the US. FAQs and additional information about the lifeline can be found at https://988lifeline.org/. Oaks Integrated Care remains dedicated to providing mental health services and treatment to help support all individuals. To learn more about mental health services or schedule an appointment, call our Access Center at 1-800-963-3377 or fill out our contact form.
