New Mental Health Hotline Strives to Make Care More Accessible Nationwide
- Category: Mental Health, News Coverage
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The 988 system will build on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is an existing network of over 200 crisis centers nationwide staffed by counselors who answer millions of calls each year — about 2.4 million in 2020. Calls to the old lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, will go through even with 988 in place.
“If we can get 988 to work like 911 … lives will be saved,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Friday.