Update on 988: What Mental Health Professionals Need to Know Now-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

This document is an update on the 988 initiative, which is a new universal dialing code for suicide prevention, substance use, and mental health crises. The initiative aims to improve the response to mental health crises and provide better resources for individuals in need. The document outlines the learning objectives of the initiative, including distinguishing the differences between the old Lifeline and the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, assessing the effectiveness of 988 as a resource for patients, and evaluating the level of mental health crisis response in a given community.<br /><br />The document discusses the current crisis response system and the challenges it faces, such as the lack of available mental health response, inequitable response for underserved communities, and overcrowded emergency departments. It presents a vision for a reimagined crisis response system, which includes trained crisis counselors, 24/7 crisis call centers, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization centers.<br /><br />The document provides information on how the 988 initiative works, with calls being answered by trained crisis counselors and routed to local crisis centers or the national backup network if necessary. It also discusses the differences between the 911 and 988 systems, emphasizing that 988 calls are answered by crisis counselors who can provide support and de-escalate situations.<br /><br />The document highlights the importance of sustainable funding for the initiative and the need for specialized services, such as LGBTQ+ youth support and Spanish text and chat services. It also mentions the importance of reducing the dependence on law enforcement in crisis response and increasing public awareness of the 988 system.<br /><br />Additional resources and contact information are provided for those interested in learning more about the initiative and advocating for crisis services. The document concludes with a Q&A section where participants can submit their questions.<br /><br />Overall, this document provides an overview of the 988 initiative and its goals in improving the response to mental health crises.

Keywords

988 initiative

universal dialing code

suicide prevention

mental health crises

crisis response system

crisis counselors

emergency departments

specialized services

public awareness

advocating for crisis services