Montana 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Department of Public Health and Human Services www.dphhs.mt.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Jon Ebelt, Public Information Officer, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936 Chuck Council, Communications Specialist, DPHHS, (406) 444-4391
Montana 988 Launches on Saturday, July 16
New easy-to-remember suicide and crisis lifeline number set to go live nationwide
HELENA – Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials, mental health and crisis lifeline experts, and Montana State University (MSU) officials joined Governor Greg Gianforte today to promote the Montana 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that will be available beginning Saturday, July 16, 2022.
“For Montanans struggling with mental health, the new number will make it easier for people to access the help they need,” Governor Gianforte said. “Beginning July 16, the ability to make that call will become easier when Montana 988 goes live. I urge all Montanans to spread the word about this important change; it could save a life.”
Montana 988 is part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Calls made to 988 in Montana are routed to one of three Lifeline call centers: Voices of Hope in Great Falls, The Help Center in Bozeman and Western Montana Mental Health in Missoula.
“Together, these call centers provide coverage to every county in Montana,” DPHHS Director Adam Meier said. “It’s important for people to know that when they call 988, a vast majority of the time will be connected to a trained mental health and crisis counselor who works in one of the Montana call centers.”
Over the past three years, the Montana call centers have received on average about 10,000 calls per year.
Meier said the existing Montana system is able to handle a high percentage of the calls without routing them out-of-state. He said less than ten percent of calls made in Montana are sent to another call center in the national network backup system.
To further bolster and maintain these efforts, DPHHS received a nearly $400,000 SAMHSA grant that will primarily be used to maintain adequate staffing levels to manage call capacity at 90 percent or above with the transition to 988. The Montana call centers are supported through federal and state funding with a current budget of $3.4 million over the next couple of years.
Matt Kuntz, of NAMI-MT, said it’s important that those calling 988 are able speak to real Montanans who are able to connect people to local resources, especially when an individual is in crisis. “This is important because these individuals are very familiar with the local community mental health resources,” Kuntz said. “When an individual or friend or family member places that important call to the Lifeline, time is of the essence. Those answering the Lifeline calls play such a crucial role.”
As part of the launch, DPHHS partnered with the MSU School of Art to create artwork to promote the new number. Seven art instructors worked with over 90 students on the “MT 988 Project”. “The MT 988 Project works to explore the complex personal and social issues around suicide,” said MSU Teaching Professor Bruce Barnhart.
With the help of DPPHS and MSU mental health professionals, the student’s studied and then had in-class discussions on this challenging subject. “By engaging students in research, reflection, understanding, and outreach, the MT 988 Project aims to provide better awareness of suicide and share vital information about prevention,” Barnhart said.
Several of the selected posters are available for download here. (insert link)
DPHHS and the Montana Broadcaster’s Association (MBA) have also partnered to update TV and radio PSAs to promote the new 988 number. The spots will be airing statewide over the next year. Links to the PSAs are available online.
The National Lifeline is a national network of over 200 local, independent crisis centers equipped to help people in mental health related distress or experiencing a suicidal crisis via call, chat, or text. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the U.S.
The National Crisis Text Line is also available for Montanans by texting MT to 741 741.
In addition, Veterans who dial 988 will be given a prompt to dial “1” to be routed to the Veteran Crisis Line, just as they did under the previous 1-800 number.
DPHHS Suicide Prevention Coordinator Karl Rosston urges Montanans to be aware of common suicide warning signs, such as:
Expressing ideations, directly or indirectly, of killing themselves.
Change in sleep patterns, either too much or too little.
Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone.
Feelings of hopelessness or feelings things will never get better.
Change in their pattern of use of drugs or alcohol.
Giving away possessions without any logical explanation.
Stops doing the things they enjoy.
Increased anger or irritability.
Acting reckless or engaging in high-risk behavior
Change in mood or acting out of character
Rosston also asks Montanans to offer support to a friend or loved one who may be considering suicide. “Take all signs of suicidal behavior seriously,” Rosston said. “If someone you know says he or she is thinking of suicide, don’t play it down or ignore the situation. Many people who die by suicide have expressed the intention at some point. You may worry that you’re overreacting, but the safety of your friend or loved one is most important.”
Here’s what you can do to help someone who is considering suicide:
Encourage the person to seek treatment
Offer to help the person take steps to get assistance and support
Encourage the person to communicate with you
Be respectful and acknowledge the person’s feelings
Don’t be patronizing or judgmental
Never promise to keep someone’s suicidal feelings a secret
Offer reassurance that things will get better
Encourage the person to avoid alcohol and drug use
Temporarily lock up medications and firearms.
More suicide prevention information and resources is available on the DPHHS website.
About 988
In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800-273-8255) network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country.
On July 16, 2022, the U.S. will transition to using the 988-dialing code.
988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number—it’s a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
The 988 dialing code is just a first step toward strengthening and transforming crisis care in this country. It serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Over time, the vision for 988 is to have additional crisis services available in communities across the nation, much the way emergency medical services work.
Original source can be found here.
