Top Biden mental health official on 988's future
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Two years in, big questions remain about whether America's revamped 988 suicide hotline is working as envisioned and how funding has been dispersed.
- We checked in with Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use for the Health and Human Services Department, about what's next. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity.
Q: What's the status of routing 988 calls to call centers based on a person's actual location instead of just the area code?
A: The goal there is to ... have the call ping off the local cell tower and then go to the closest call center.
- We did complete a pilot ... and are looking ultimately to be able to, in the coming months, stand up and begin implementation of georouting.
- It won't happen with a flick of a switch. We'll really work it gradually as different [cellular] carriers come online.
Q: House Republicans found that only a fraction of the money already appropriated for 988 has been spent, but the Biden administration is asking for a $100 million increase. Why do you need more?
A: Often we see that states have allocated the resources but still are working on contracting or hiring or any of the pieces that that will actually spend down the resources.
- Many states still are … wanting to further build out their mobile crisis systems. ... We know also that states have needs across the board in rural areas.
- The other pieces that we haven't really done heavily is paid advertising and marketing to let people know that this resource is there and it is available. ... We are in the midst of some paid marketing but certainly want to be able to do more of that.
Q: Recent reports describe severe burnout and turnover at some 988 call centers. What is SAMHSA doing to ease those issues?
A: It's an area that that we've heard some about as well. [We're] really looking through our training and technical assistance, but also just the multiple ways in which we connect with call centers ... to really encourage that piece — the staff wellness and overall health and wellbeing component.
- We don't have a specific line item or piece related to that [in SAMHSA's budget], but that certainly is an allowable expense within the resources that are allocated.
Q: What are your priorities for 988's third year?
A: We're excited to get georouting up and running. Also really excited to get the word out about 988 [to] more communities, particularly communities that may not have heard about it.
- [States are also] expanding the mobile crisis team systems ... and then also building out the crisis stabilization sites so that there are more alternatives to inpatient hospitalization.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or use the online 988 chat function.
