988 Suicide Line Shares Success Stories

The new three-digit national crisis line took five million calls in its first year of operation.

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, but all year long, the 988 suicide and crisis hotline takes calls and messages from people experiencing mental health crises.

In July 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became 988, an easy-to-remember lifeline created to help people dealing with depression, substance use and suicidal ideation, and get more immediate help and be guided to additional resources.

The new three-digit national crisis line took five million calls in its first year of operation. Federal officials say that is up 35 percent compared to the old 10-digit line.

Since 2022, 988 has answered more than 665,000 text messages, a 1,135 percent increase from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline the year before 988 went live. The 10-digit line only added text messaging in 2020.

Rozanna Bracken, the director of the West Virginia 988 line, read some anonymous appreciation messages from people who have contacted 988 in West Virginia:

“I appreciate you, counselor. It may not seem like it, but you helped me to center myself. And I was simply trying to thank you and tell you that it’s apparent that you are a light in a very dark place for a lot of people.”

“Thank you for talking to me and taking time out of your day to speak to me. I hope you have an amazing rest of your week, and you’re the reason why many people are still here today.”

“Thank you, counselor. You probably hear this a lot, but you really helped me feel better about everything. I feel so much better. And it’s like I finally was able to let some stuff off my chest, you were a really big help with everything.”

“You really saved my life tonight; you are constantly saving lives and I honor you for that. I’m glad you saved mine.”

“If I need you guys ever again, I know where to find you. Go save more people, it must take a lot of strength to do what you do. Then again, I thank you.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of harming themselves or others, they can text or call 988 at any time for help.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

September Is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

The goal of the 988 line is to connect people in crisis with someone in their community who can point them to local resources.

Suicide is a major public health concern and a leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

West Virginia’s age-adjusted suicide rate was higher than the national level in 2021. The age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 in the U.S. was 14.1 in the same year West Virginia’s rate was 20.6.

In 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became 988, an easy-to-remember number created to help people dealing with depression, substance use and suicidal ideation and more get immediate help and be guided to additional resources.

First Choice operates several programs and helplines across six states including West Virginia with the common goal of promoting well-being and helping those in need access behavioral health and social services.

“We have counselors, trained crisis counselors available 24/7 every day of the year to answer calls, chats and texts for people in crisis, or having thoughts of suicide,” said Rozanna Bracken, the director of the West Virginia 988 line.

The lines give people the option to talk to someone who will not judge them about what is going on in their lives, and receive guidance for healthy coping mechanisms.

“That’s kind of the biggest benefit, I think, is the availability of the line, no matter who reaches us, you know, if you’ve got internet or phone, you’re able to reach out, you don’t have to have a certain speed of internet or anything,” Bracken said.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of harming themselves or others, they can text or call 988 at any time for help.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Texts Increase In First Year Of 988

The new three-digit national crisis line took five million calls in its first year of operation. Federal officials say that is up 35 percent compared to the old 10-digit line. 

The goal of 988 is to connect people in crisis with someone in their community who can point them to local resources if needed.

The new three-digit national crisis line took five million calls in its first year of operation. Federal officials say that is up 35 percent compared to the old 10-digit line. 

One year ago, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became 988, an easy-to-remember lifeline created to help people dealing with depression, substance use and suicidal ideation, and get more immediate help and be guided to additional resources.

Officials report, one year in, texts to the lifeline increased and average wait times fell to 41 seconds.

In 2022, West Virginia lawmakers passed Senate Bill 181 with a commitment from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to fund the call center.

According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a survey found that 38 percent of West Virginians reported symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder during the two-week surveyed time, compared to 32.2 percent of adults in the U.S.

According to KFF’s analysis of the CDC’s Multiple Cause of Death 2011 to 2021 report, suicide deaths have increased fastest among people of color, younger individuals and people who live in rural areas.

West Virginia’s age-adjusted suicide rate was higher than the national average in 2021 with 20.6 per 100,000 people.

Across the country, some states have struggled to staff their call centers. This is not the case in West Virginia, as First Choice Services, the nonprofit organization that operates 988 and other health helplines in West Virginia had only seven job openings at the time this story was published.

Jeremy Smith, director of outreach at First Choice Services, said his organization has seen an influx of people reaching out since the switch to 988, which he credits in part to the new tagline for the service.

“With the rollout of 988, I think people started understanding that maybe they don’t actually have to be suicidal at that point,” Smith said. “They might just be dealing with a crisis and severe emotional distress and need somebody to talk to. And by opening up, you know, and adding the word crisis, I think it made it more clear to everybody that this is also a resource for people that just need to talk to somebody.”

Smith said 988 is easier to remember for people and credits simplicity with increased calls and texts.

“Obviously, by switching to 988, it made the number easier to remember for folks, just like we have 911,” Smith said. “Everybody knows what 911 is. They know you can call it for an emergency. 988 just fits right in with that.”

According to Smith, they have seen an increase in the number of people under the age of 24 using the service, specifically the texting line.

“It definitely seems to trend that more and more younger people are using the service, especially if they’re under the age of 34,” Smith said. “So it definitely seems like younger people are more comfortable using the program.”

The lines give people the option to talk to someone who will not judge them about what is going on in their lives and receive guidance for healthy coping mechanisms.

“We really try to hit all the different angles in our training and our specialization so that when somebody calls, we do have some skills that we can use and talk to them about whatever they might be going through,” Smith said.

In the last year, 988 has answered more than 665,000 texts, a 1,135 percent increase from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline the year before 988 went live. The 10-digit line only added text in 2020.

“On average, one person died by suicide every 22 hours in this state, according to the last known facts that we had from 2020. It’s the second leading cause of death for kids age 10 to 34,” Smith said.

Only 18 percent of adults in the U.S. are aware of 988, according to a survey released in May by Pew Charitable Trusts.

“In addition to the phone calls, people can text, text and chat as well, and we want to make sure people know about that option. Especially with the younger generation, it seems like they’re a little bit more comfortable communicating in that method,” Smith said. “And so those come in right here to us, and we’re going to give those the same level of care that we do with phone calls.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Supporting LGBTQ Youth Mental Health On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and last week a nationwide survey of the LGBTQ community revealed concerning numbers.

On this West Virginia Morning, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and last week a nationwide survey of the LGBTQ community revealed concerning numbers. A warning to our listeners, this story contains discussions of self-harm and suicide. Chris Schulz brings us this story.

Also, in this show, the Allegheny Front, based in Pittsburgh, is a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. We listen to their latest story about phosphorus in our water and on agricultural fields.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University and Shepherd University.

Caroline MacGregor is our assistant news director and produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

School Choice And A New Study Sheds Light On Financial Costs Of Suicide, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, from the Hope Scholarship to charter schools, West Virginia’s educational landscape has changed in the last few years. Often driven by legislation, supporters of the “school choice” movement have more options now than ever before.

On this West Virginia Morning, from the Hope Scholarship to charter schools, West Virginia’s educational landscape has changed in the last few years. Often driven by legislation, supporters of the “school choice” movement have more options now than ever before.

Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, and Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, to discuss how things have changed.

Also, in this show, a study from West Virginia University recently looked at the financial costs of self-injury deaths like suicide or overdose as a way to make people pay more attention to the problem.

Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice spoke with Ian Rockett, one of the authors of the study.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Government Turns To Three-Digit Lifeline To Cut Suicide Rates

In an emergency, Americans know to dial 911. Beginning July 16, people can dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

In an emergency, Americans know to dial 911. Beginning July 16, people can dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

West Virginia is one of54 states and territories to receive federal dollars to help with the transition.

According to a Kaiser Report, suicide death rates increased by almost 40 percent in West Virginia between 2010 to 2020, the third highest in the nation. West Virginia’s single call center includes the Veterans Crisis Line.

West Virginians who need support can still call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), but this number will eventually be phased out. On Saturday, the state switches to 988.

Nationally, the number of calls is expected to triple in the first year alone.

This switch to a national call center is being funded by the federal government, but experts are concerned that the funds will fall short to prepare centers for the expected volume of callers.

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