988 Day Calls Attention To Suicide, Crisis Lifeline

More than 30,000 people in West Virginia have contacted the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the past year. Those who run the service want to be sure anyone who needs help knows how to reach them – by dialing or texting 988.

Monday was the second annual 988 Day, set aside across the state and nationally, to draw attention to the service organizers say saves lives.

First Choice Services, which answers 988 calls in West Virginia, is staffed around the clock. 

“It’s a day to basically reflect on what these services have to offer, to encourage people to call if they need help, either for themselves or for a loved one,” said Sheila Moran, the director of marketing and communication for First Choice.

“Who they’re calling is a real person, a real human being. No chat bots here. They’re going to reach a crisis counselor. Here in Charleston, we have about 100 people who work around the clock at our agency to answer that telephone,” she said.

Messages are answered around the clock by trained crisis counselors who respond to people experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts or concern for someone else.

“People call because they’re upset, they’re going through a breakup, because they’re having a panic attack, because they feel no one else will listen to them,” Moran said. “They may be calling because they are feeling suicidal, just a multitude of reasons. And we always say there’s no bad reason to call 988.” 

Unlike 911 dispatchers, Moran said call center counselors have time to talk to someone in distress, and only send emergency responders if it’s warranted – almost always at the request of the caller.

The calls come in by phone, by text and by chat. Moran said a counselor’s most important job is simply to listen.

“They let someone talk, talk without judgment, and help them work through their feelings and issues. I think it’s just crucial to call attention to this issue, because suicide is still a major issue in this state. You know, we lose about a person a day here in West Virginia to suicide, and that’s just tragic,” Moran said.  

A national backup center ensures no call for help goes unanswered.