In light of the nationwide launch of the 988 suicide hotline, STAT (7/20, Gaffney) reports that even though “some call centers said they didn’t see any change in volume with the launch of the new number, the Department of Health and Human Services expects the volume of calls to the national line to double in the first full year,” a surge that “could tax a mental healthcare system that’s already severely strained, and direly underfunded.” The article spotlights volunteers at Call2Talk, a Framingham, MA-based call center handling 988 calls.
Related Links:
— “At a 988 call center, volunteers embrace a new number while providing familiar hope “Theresa Gaffney, STAT, July 21, 2022