The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now available nationwide as a three-digit dialing code, 988, to ease the process for those in crisis to get the help they need. OSF HealthCare Holy Family and St. Mary’s President Lisa DeKezel shares how the hotline connects callers with trained professionals:
“Just like you would call 911 for a medical emergency, those answering the line have been trained on how to respond and hoe to connect you with the right resources, this is very similar. What is does is it really helps those who are in mental health crisis. Someone who fears they have reached a point where the need help and they need it now. They need to be connected with someone that can get the services for them because they fear they could be harmful to themselves or potentially others. If they are having suicidal thoughts or truly a mental health crisis or break, this will help to connect them with a team that is trained to respond and/or get them connected to the right services.”
The 988 nationwide Suicidal Prevention Lifeline is in coordination with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
**Written by WMOI/WRAM Director of Communiations Kelsey Crain**
