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988: The New Mental Health Crisis Number
Effective July 16, 2022, when people call, text, or chat 988, their call will be routed to trained, local counselors who are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Better equipped to handle mental and behavioral health issues in their community than 911 dispatchers, these counselors can provide local resources and referrals when people need it most.
Margie Balfour, M.D., Ph.D., recipient of the 2022 NAMI Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award and the 2021 Crisis Intervention Team Behavioral Healthcare Practitioner of the Year, psychiatrist, and Chief Clinical Quality Officer at Connections Health Solutions, the leading innovator in behavioral health crisis care, recently sat down with Cassidy Quinn of the Mentally Together podcast to talk 988, warning signs to look for as well as the future of mental health care.