PITTSBURGH — The new national mental health crisis phone line, 988, was launched on Saturday, but many fear states and their lifeline call centers may be understaffed and unready to absorb the influx of new callers.
The number is intended to be easy to remember, in the hope that it will enable more people to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has relied on people dialing a 10-digit phone number, 800-273-8255.
Since its adoption in 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has received over 20 million calls from people in distress and looking for support.
