Mental Health Advocates Cheer New 988 Line, but say More Work Needs to be Done

(KNSI) — Mental-health advocates hope the revamped National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and its new simplified number of 988 allows more people in crisis to access help, but add more work needs to be done.

Ellie Skelton, executive director of Touchstone Mental Health, which provides residential treatment and community-based services, said the bolstered hotline is an essential tool as the overall system struggles to meet demand, “and we still need to strengthen the overall mobile crisis teams, police response in terms of behavioral outreach or social worker ride-along. And also having more services available to people in the community. ”

She pointed out waiting lists are longer now because of a provider shortage. The federal government did grant states initial funding to help with the number switch, but a new report from the Rand Corporation cited funding concerns for more sustained operations in many jurisdictions and gaps in urgent-care units for mental health.

Skelton says the weight of the COVID crisis has hit older Minnesotans hard, and they “definitely have experienced a lot of stress during the pandemic. So, substance-use disorders are up, suicidal thoughts and depression are up among older adults.”

Skelton emphasized many people, especially women, might not associate physical symptoms such as headaches with behavioral health. But she added those could be warnings a person is experiencing depression. Experts advised following up on red flags by reaching out to services such as the 988 line can put people on the right path.

Minnesota has four Lifeline centers that connect callers to nearby or state-specific resources.

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MNC Reporter Mike Moen contributed to this story.

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