Governor Laura Kelly Celebrates the Launch of the 988 Mental Health Lifeline in Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly ceremonially signed Senate Bill 19 Monday, bipartisan legislation that launches 988 as the official 24/7 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Beginning Saturday, July 16, Kansans and all Americans can call 988 during mental health and substance abuse emergencies. Governor Kelly joined Sedgwick County Commissioners, legislators and local advocates for the celebration at the Sedgwick County Courthouse.
"With 988, we are on the path to reversing our country's mental health crisis and getting Kansans the help they need," Governor Kelly said. "Just as every American knows to call 911 in times of emergency, every American – and every Kansan – will soon know to call 988 when they or a loved one is facing a mental health or substance abuse crisis."
Governor Kelly announced in January of this year that the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) received the Lifeline's 988 State Planning Grant through the nonprofit Vibrant Emotional Health to develop plans to build the infrastructure for and grow access to the Lifeline's new three-digit 988 number. Governor Kelly signed SB 19 in June so that going forward, each July 1 $10 million in state general funds will be appropriated to fund 988 with no access fee for Kansans.
The new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will connect callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and offer a broader range of services for people experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis. Callers will be connected to resources in their local community and to in-person crisis services where available. Kansans who dial 988 will be routed to a local crisis specialist trained to address unique concerns and needs, which may include assessment, stabilization, referral and follow-up.
"Kansas is the 14th state to fund 988 through legislation and we are excited for the national launch of 988," KDADS Behavioral Health Services Commissioner Andrew Brown said. "KDADS has been working throughout the Kelly Administration to increase the infrastructure in Kansas for suicide prevention and crisis intervention in preparation for 988. This will be the first of several milestones that will help Kansans experiencing a crisis get improved access to the help they need during a crisis."
KDADS partnered with the Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ, Johnson County Mental Health, COMCARE of Sedgwick County, HealthSource Information Solutions and TBD Solutions LLC to develop clear roadmaps to address coordination, capacity, funding and communications surrounding the launch of 988 and collaborated with state leadership, suicide prevention experts, people with lived experience and others to create a 988 implementation plan and support the Lifeline's operational, clinical and performance standards that allow access to care.
Individuals will still be able to access the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 after the July 16 implementation of 988. The current Lifeline and 988 will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via call, text or chat. All phone service providers are required to connect callers who dial 988 to the Lifeline.
(Information and photo courtesy Office of the Governor.)