Tennessee tries to boost awareness of 988 mental health hotline
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Tennessee recently launched a new suicide prevention effort urging people to lean on the 988 mental health crisis hotline and other resources during times of crisis.
Why it matters: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in Tennessee, and the suicide rate here is about 20% higher than the national average, according to state data.
Driving the news: The new Promise to Call campaign encourages people to write down the name of a friend or supportive resource. Then participants promise to call if they ever have thoughts of suicide.
- Advocates also suggest adding 988 to your phone contacts as a backstop in times of crisis.
What they're saying: "It is our belief that if someone makes a promise prior to a suicide crisis, it can save a life," said Commissioner Marie Williams, who oversees the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Threat level: In 2023, the most recent full year of statistics, 1,279 Tennesseans died by suicide.
- Men and white Tennesseans have died by suicide at particularly high rates, according to state-specific data.
The big picture: The 988 hotline launched in 2022 to help confront the national mental health crisis. But there is significant room for growth.
- According to a recent analysis, last year's nationwide 988 contact rate was less than half the rate of adult emergency room visits related to mental health, despite ERs' cost and access issues.
By the numbers: Calls and texts to 988 in Tennessee have steadily increased.
- During fiscal year 2024, which ran from July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, Tennessee logged 48,847 calls and 21,446 texts and web chats to 988.
- The state is already exceeding those figures this year. At the end of May, 11 months into the fiscal year, Tennessee had logged 53,656 calls and a whopping 32,674 texts and web chats.
Zoom out: The Trump administration recently announced it would stop connecting LGBTQ+ youth in crisis who call 988 to the Trevor Project suicide hotline.
- This will limit callers' access to counselors trained in helping LGBTQ+ youth, as President Trump targets the group that is more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than peers.
The Oasis Center, a Middle Tennessee youth support organization, offers tailored mental health resources for young LGBTQ+ people. Their 24/7 crisis line is 615-327-4455.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org.