Mastodawn

@Saltchuler
Thanks, being aware of 988 and other crisis lines can be life saving. There is complexity that drives misinformation.
tldr;
988 is a framework implemented at state level
Not all states have done more than the minimum
The goal is to remove law enforcement from the response but in most places law enforcement is still dispatched
Simply talking about suicide is not enough to trigger an emergency response - there must be a judgement of imminent danger of suicide
1/

Crisis lines will often break trust with the caller by not telling them that emergency response is being sent. I think this may be a large part of inaccurate perceptions of how the system works. I no longer volunteer with a crisis line because of this lying. The key to not having the police show up is to be able to safety plan convincingly if one has a plan and means, or being passively suicidal.
2/

Lines are supposed to provide a safe space to talk about anything, including suicidal thoughts. The intent is always to descalate without involving a response. Emergency responders are sent in cases when there is a judgement of imminent danger of suicide. The caller’s intent, plan and means, as well as other factors are part of the evaluation. As long as a caller will make a safety plan no responders should be sent, but this a judgement call.
3/

988, and before that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (SPL), is not national. It is implemented at a state level. Each state will have one or more call centers to answer calls and provide local resources which could include outpatient therapy, a visit by a crisis team of mental health providers, access to mental health programs, information, etc.
Staff is trained, but phone answerer is not necessarily a mental health provider.
4/

In most areas law enforcement is still used if there is a perceived need for a response. Some cities have changed to send mental health providers, and 988 is intended to change this.
Not all states have implemented 988 beyond forwarding the calls to existing SPL call centers.
https://reimaginecrisis.org/map/
So one’s experience as a caller is going to vary, some states have greater protections, some cities have more resources, most use law enforcement and some don’t.
5/

#ReimagineCrisis 988 Crisis Response State Legislation Map

Learn more about what 988 implementation and crisis services legislation is moving in statehouses across the country.

Reimagine Crisis