Indiana leads on 988 crisis call response
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Indiana continues to lead the nation in its crisis response, with one of the highest rates of in-state answered calls to the revamped national suicide prevention hotline.
Why it matters: The 988 hotline, established nationwide in 2022, replaced the Be Well Crisis Helpline (211) created by Mental Health America of Indiana in 2020.
- Starting today, 211 callers seeking mental health support will be directed to 988.
The big picture: Congress gave states $1 billion to build out the 988 hotline, amid nationwide concern over worsening mental health, with the expectation that states would establish their own long-term funding to operate call centers and crisis services.
- Those efforts have been uneven, contributing to significantly lower response times in certain states. As with much of the health care system, the level of crisis services available to people depends greatly on where they live.
- Though all states use surcharges on cellphone bills to fund 911 services, just 10 states so far have done the same for 988, according to a new report from mental health advocacy group Inseparable shared first with Axios.
Zoom in: Indiana has not put in place a cellphone surcharge to fund 988 yet, instead relying on a combination of federal and state funds so far.
By the numbers: 94% of 988 calls placed in Indiana were answered in state, the fourth-highest rate in the nation and better than the national average of 88%.
- Indiana now has four call centers and one text center to respond to 988 calls, according to reporting from the Indiana Capital Chronicle.