{"id":20451,"date":"2022-07-18T23:32:53","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T23:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=20451"},"modified":"2024-04-02T15:26:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T15:26:38","slug":"launching-this-week-new-988-national-crisis-and-suicide-hotline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/launching-this-week-new-988-national-crisis-and-suicide-hotline\/","title":{"rendered":"Launching this week: New 988 national crisis and suicide hotline","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

A new resource is available to people struggling with mental health crises.<\/p>\n

Instead of calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline\u2019s 800 number, you can now simply dial 988. The shortened dialing code operates through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network, which connects people to crisis centers and counselors across the country.<\/p>\n

This new hotline went into effect nationally on July 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an incredibly important resource for all families to be aware of,\u201d says Ashley Mangum, program manager of Kids\u2019 Mental Health Pierce County<\/a>. \u201cThis shorter number is easy to remember and is one that we strongly encourage everyone to have programmed into their phones.\u201d<\/p>\n

As many as one in four youth report mental health challenges, and as many as 33 percent of children have reported symptoms of depression and\/or anxiety since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe youth mental health crisis existed long before the pandemic, but the stressors that our children face today \u2014 including increased isolation, traumatic national events and social justice issues \u2014 only compound the effects of the crisis,\u201d Mangum says.<\/p>\n

The new 988 dialing code provides a universal connection point to anyone facing mental health distress, including:<\/p>\n