Let’s say you witness—or experience—a psychiatric emergency. Who you gonna call?
Pop quiz. What 3-digit number would you call if a mental-health crisis were unfolding right in front of you?
If you’re like almost half of people polled in a recent survey, you would go with 911. But that line is intended for life-threatening situations, medical emergencies and crimes in progress.
For a behavioral emergency involving yourself or someone nearby, the better number to call—or text, or webchat—is 988.
That’s been the go-to quick dial nationally for four years now, having launched on July 16, 2022.
Congress established it two years earlier under the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020.
The new survey on 988 was conducted on behalf of the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, which posted the results July 13.
Pollsters received responses from around 2,400 adults, most of whom live in Michigan but collectively comprise a nationally representative cohort.
More findings from the report:
- Among people aged 50 and over, 31% have never heard of any mental-health crisis line.
- The majority of those polled, 69%, had never heard of 988. However, this includes 38% who had not heard of 988 but had heard of another mental-health crisis line.
- Asked what they would do in case of a mental health emergency, 56% of respondents said they are very or somewhat likely to use a mental-health crisis line.
- Some 46% said they would be very likely or somewhat likely to call 911 (which remains equipped to forward calls to 988 as appropriate).
- Once they received an explanation of 988’s function and purpose, three-quarters of the field, exactly 75%, said they would feel at least somewhat comfortable using the hotline.
“These data show a clear need to focus awareness-raising efforts on people over 50,” Kevin Saulnier, PhD, tells Michigan Medicine’s news operation. “No matter which crisis line they choose, they and those who love them should know that there’s someone available to talk, text or webchat with them at any hour of any day, for free.”
For more survey results and insights, go here. For more on 988, go here and/or here.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.