Suicide hotline 988 looks back at year, raises concerns for future
The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline began in July of 2022, looking to battle the ever-growing suicide rates head-on with ease and efficiency of a ‘911’ type system. Following a year of services, mental health officials discussed the successes, and shortcomings, of the national system.
The Association of Health Care Journalists held a webinar on Thursday to discuss 988’s first-year statistics and the questions that still remain going forward.
‘As a nation, we are in a vast public health crisis when it comes to mental health,’ said Vincent Atchity, President and CEO of Mental Health Colorado. ‘There’s a pediatric state of emergency when it comes to mental health.’
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Mental Health Colorado is an advocacy organization. We do not provide crisis services, clinical care, or direct mental health support. The organization’s contact information is for non-crisis inquiries and is monitored during business hours only.