988 Marks 2nd Anniversary of Launch

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has received 10 million contacts since it was instituted, with text traffic representing 1.7 million of them, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Tuesday marked the two-year anniversary of the three-digit number's launch (see 2207150036). HHS said since 988’s expansion of services for Spanish speakers, LGBTQ youth and young adults, it has received 20,000 Spanish texts and chats and more than 475,000 LGBTQ youth calls, texts and chats. The Veterans Crisis Line received 1.2 million calls via 988, it noted. Nearly $1.5 billion in federal funding has gone to 988, HHS said. In a call with media, HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm said much of that funding went to states, tribes and territories for hiring crisis contact center counselors and expanding services.