Kaiser Health News (7/28, Louis) reports, “The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 phone number, which launched July 16, was designed as a universal mental health support tool for callers at any time anywhere,” but “the level of support that 988 callers receive depends on their ZIP code.” For example, “rural Americans, who die by suicide at a far higher rate than residents of urban areas, often have trouble accessing mental health services,” and even though “988 can connect them to a call center close to home, they could end up being directed to far-away resources.”
Related Links:
— “The US Mental Health Hotline Network Is Expanding, but Rural Areas Still Face Care Shortages “Christina Saint Louis, Kaiser Health News, July 28, 2022