Page 9 - Demo

9 | Page January 2 4 I ssueThe launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) in July 2022 represented a shift in how the U.S. addresses behavioral health crises. Simplifying access to support by replacing the longer National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number with the easy-to-remember number 988 provides an immediate, accessible resource for anyone in distress. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress, including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, and/or any other kind of emotional distress. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where someone lives in the United States, they can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.Key national findings include:%u2022 Across the U.S., the 988 Lifeline expanded its reach, mainly through text and chat services. Text interactions increased by 51 percent.%u2022 In the U.S., Spanish and American Sign Language became available, ensuring broader access to critical support.%u2022 Nationwide, since its launch, the 988 Lifeline has received 10.8 million calls, texts and chats. In May 2024, monthly contacts exceeded half a million, up about one-third from the previous year and 80 percent from May 2022. Despite increased demand, national answer rates improved, and wait times decreased. Overall, answer rates rose from 70 percent pre-launch in May 2022 to 89 percent two years later, although some performance metrics slightly declined in year two due to rising contact volumes.Kansas-specific findings include:%u2022 The 988 Lifeline in Kansas experienced growth in call volume and infrastructure during year two. Kansas call centers handled 25,432 calls, averaging 2,119 per month. Text and chat services saw a more than 45 percent increase from the previous year, with 13,644 texts and chats routed, averaging 1,139 monthly texts or chats.%u2022 Kansas now has five centers handling calls: HeadQuarters Kansas in Lawrence, the Johnson County Mental Health Center, COMCARE of Sedgwick County, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network in Kansas City, and HealthSource Integrated Solutions in Topeka, which provides backup support.%u2022 In year two, Kansas saw a slight drop in the percentage of calls answered in the state. Between August 2023 and July 2024, Kansas answered 88.5 percent of its 988 calls on average, falling just short of the national and state goal of 90 percent and last year%u2019s average of 90.3 percent. The in-state answer rate fluctuated between 85 percent and 91 percent throughout the year.%u2022 Chat and text services showed different answer patterns from call services, with in-state rates around 45 percent for chats and 51 percent for texts in July 2024.%u2022 Data indicates higher call volumes during the summer months.Learn more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Kansas. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, text, or chat 9-8-8 for help.For details about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Kansas or the 988 Coordinating Council, contact KDADS Communications Director Cara Sloan-Ramos at cara.sloanramos@ks.gov. For more