NATIONWIDE — Preventing suicide is about more than words. It’s about a number: 988.
“Instead of remembering a 10-digit number during really tough times, you just need to remember three,” said deputy health and human services commissioner Melissa Stickle. “988 will instantly connect you to someone who can help, who can listen.”
“Just like 911 for emergencies and 211 for non-emergencies, 988 is meant to be easy to remember and use,” added District 5 Legislator Cat Scott, chair of the legislature’s health and human services committee. “No one needs to struggle with mental and emotional challenges all alone. There are always good people willing to help, and that one call to 988 can make all the difference.”
According to a recent survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately one in five adults in the United States experience mental illness each year.
“This statistic highlights the urgent need for accessible and effective mental health resources,” said health and human services commissioner John Liddle. “By promoting 988 awareness, we hope to make it easier for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis—including suicidal thoughts—to reach out. Sullivan County has a lot of resources, and my crew are eager to talk with everyone about those resources.”
For more information on 988—including phone alternatives like text, online chat or sign language services—visit 988lifeline.org.