Three digits, one phone call, and help is by your side.
Anyone struggling with mental health, depression or suicidal thoughts is only three digits away from the help they need, thanks to the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Modeled after the easy-to-remember 911 emergency line, the 988 Lifeline is fully dedicated to swiftly connecting callers in distress with a trained counselor, who can provide immediate emergency assistance, while simultaneously identifying resources for continued care.
“The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline creates a seamless point of service between the people looking for help and vital mental health services like those provided at the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion,” says Terry Cassidy, executive director of Behavioral Health Services at Sarasota Memorial. “We can get the caller the care they need, right when they need it, and then follow up by pointing them in the right direction for further care.”
Meeting A Growing Mental Health Crisis
Since 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline—1-800-273-8255—has existed to provide exactly this sort of aid to those in need.
But according to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide rates nevertheless increased dramatically for decades, rising as much as 33%. In 2023, more than 49,000 people committed suicide in the US alone—that’s one person every 11 minutes. It is a leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 35.
But if awareness grows around this national lifeline, available 24/7 and staffed by trained counselors, experts hope to see a change.
Why the Change to 988?
To answer a question with a question: How many people knew the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline off the top of their head?
“The old number was quite a bit to remember in the heat of the moment,” says Cassidy, but a three-digit number that mirrors the ubiquitous 911 emergency line is easy to recall, easy to dial and therefore easy to access. “The switch removed one more unnecessary barrier between people in distress and the potentially life-saving care that they need and we can provide,” she says.
What About The Old Number?
The original 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is still active and can still be called for help.
These calls are simply routed to the 988 number.
And though 911 is easy enough to remember, police officers are not mental health counselors and are not properly trained to de-escalate and deal with mental health crises. “A lot of people have great anxiety about law enforcement knocking at the door,” says Cassidy. Too often the situation ends tragically.
But if someone calls 988, Cassidy continues, they’re calling an expert trained to understand what they’re going through. “The help they need is only a phone call away,” she says. “And that’s the most important message to send.”
Community Partners In Mental Health
As a leading healthcare provider in the community, Sarasota Memorial is an active partner with the experts and counselors behind the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, providing inpatient and outpatient care, 24/7 urgent consults, physician referrals and free evaluations through the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion.
“We have a very strong relationship,” says Cassidy.
And once connected to the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion, callers are in the care of a multi-disciplinary team of specialty-trained mental health professionals treating a wide variety of mental health conditions and disorders, as well as substance abuse and neurological issues. This includes board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, for comprehensive community care.
“Being a leader in mental health services means building a multidisciplinary team that can meet the needs of the community it serves,” says Cassidy. “So that’s what we did.”
For a free clinical assessment, call 941-917-7760.
In an emergency or crisis, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.
Written by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY.