By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been in operation for a little over a year.
Last week a group gathered in Dodge City for a summit “Standing in the Gap: Rural and Frontier Access to Mental Health Care” and discussed the role played by the 988 crisis line in providing crisis intervention in rural Kansas .
The event was sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Kansas, also known as NAMI.
According to 988 resource materials, 988 offers 24/7 access anywhere in the United States to qualified crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress.
Anyone can call or text 988 or chat on the 988 website at 988lifeline.org. You can call for yourself or for a loved one you have concerns about.
According to the Associated Press, 988 received more than 2 million calls, texts and chat messages in its first year of operation.
The new line, which was modeled to look like the 911 emergency line, has seen an increase over the previous national suicide and seizure line.
According to the Associated Press, the 988 helpline logged 154,585 more calls, texts and chat messages in November 2022 than the old national lifeline in November 2021.
According to the Associated Press, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration saw a 1,227 percent increase in texting, while Veterans Crisis Services, which can be accessed via 988, reported a 10% increase.
“It’s early days,” said Clayton Levret, pharmacologist and PsychU speaker, speaking of the hotline. “I want to draw attention to how important it is to bring people together not only around 988, but also with today’s summit and around the community. rural and all the other challenges you face.”
65% of non-metro counties have no psychiatrists, Levret 60% of rural Americans live in areas with a shortage of mental health services.
Levret said through his research he found that suicide occurs within 11 minutes. If intervention can be achieved within that time, the thought process can be stopped.
988 differs from 911 in that it is a crisis response line and not a dispatch line. If you need medical or police assistance, you still need to call 911.
However, Brooks Robertson of the Kansas 988 system, which is based in Lawrence, said people don’t need to be suicidal to get in touch.
“One thing we found is that people knew they were in a crisis, but they didn’t necessarily know if they could call it a suicidal crisis. They didn’t know if 988 was an appropriate space and an appropriate path for them,” Robertson said.
“We really want to encourage people experiencing crises of all shapes, all sizes, whether it’s a substance use crisis, whether it’s a general suicidal crisis or a mental health crisis.” .
“If you are concerned about someone else, someone you love, someone you know and want to know the best way to connect them to the best support path, the crisis counselor on the other end of these three numbers will work with you as well.”
988 is available regardless of age, which means that the resources are available for young people. Spanish-speaking crisis counselors are available. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use the chat or text options or use a relay service by dialing 711 and then 988.
Many people use 988 completely anonymously without giving their name, Robertson said.
As for the telephone line, 80% of calls come from people aged 20 and over. On the other hand, 80% of SMS contacts come from people under the age of 20.
“There are so many different reasons why someone chooses one avenue of communication over another, whether it be skill or preference, but it really demonstrates how having these different methods of people preference can really drive engagement and provide one most comfortable space for that person,” Robertson said.
Calling 988 is not a panacea, Robertson said.
“We want to reserve space for people to call and not have the pressure to get better today. Many people use 988 as a temporary service between therapy appointments or other appointments they may have,” Robertson said.
However, 988 has limitations.
988 routes calls by area code. In a community like Hays, which is home to students from out of state, calls may be routed out of state.
If you have an Ohio area code, your call will route to Ohio. This could make it difficult to connect the caller to community resources for follow-up, Robertson said.
This is why it’s also important to raise awareness of local hotlines through community mental health centers, Robertson said.
“If you’re in a crisis, call 988,” Robertson said. “You have a direct connection to a compassionate support person who will be able to work with you during stress relief, assess your safety at the time, work with you on a collaborative safety plan, and hopefully lead that conversation in a neighbor place the connection can be established with whatever resource is needed.
“We also want to share that if you’re looking for that direct connection and that local support, reach out to that local crisis line. This will be the best path to that local asset.”
High Plains Mental Health Center is the community mental health center for Ellis County and most of northwestern Kansas. The 24/7 emergency number is 1-800-432-0333.
Robertson said 988 advisors will try to connect with local emergency services if they believe callers are in immediate danger. However, if someone is being routed out of state, making those connections can be much more difficult.
Despite its limitations, Levret said the 988 is an important tool.
“The most important thing I can say today is that 988 save lives,” he said.
Other resources
National Alliance on Mental Illnesses (NAMI)
NAMI Golden plainsserving Ellis, Graham, Lane, Ness, Rooks, Rush and Trego counties, can be reached at Namigol[email protected] or 785-214-4538 or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/NAMIGoldenPlains
A combined NAMI Golden Plains Connection and Family Support Group, aimed at individuals with a mental illness or who have family members with a mental illness, meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30pm at Oak Plaza , 103C E. 27th St., Hays.
NOTE: The NAMI Golden Plains Connect Support Group is now offered as a hybrid/in-person meeting, depending on your needs. Contact [email protected] if you wish to participate via Zoom.
FHSU of the NAMI campus meets at 3.30pm every other Wednesday in Rarick Hall, Room 107. Next meeting is 6th September.
American Society for Suicide Prevention
National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Independence of the High PlainsSocial and Peer Support, 1200 Canterbury, Hays, KS, 785-621-4188
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