The new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 988, has been active across the United States for nearly a month, with the Federal Communications Commission requiring telephone providers to route 988 calls to the Lifeline by July 16.
Individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis, or who are worried about someone who may be in a crisis, can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. They will be connected to a trained counselor at one of the Lifeline crisis centers — of which there are more than 200 nationwide — who will listen, provide support and connect them with mental health resources, if necessary.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s previous number, 800.273.TALK (8255), will continue to be available and route calls to crisis centers indefinitely.
“California’s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline said call centers saw a 67% increase in calls between 2016 and 2020,” a press release from the county’s Behavioral Wellness department said. “Despite the increase, they also report being able to answer 90% of calls, according to data from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.”
The Lifeline also said that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people, and since 2005, the Lifeline has received more than 23 million calls.
According to the Lifeline’s website, the closest Lifeline crisis center to Santa Barbara County would be in Bakersfield or Century City. People who answer at these centers can still help and talk to those who call, but for a psychiatric emergency or local resources, callers would be referred to a more local center or organization.
Locally, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness has its own Access Line, 888.868.1649, that is available 24 hours per day for local mental health services and immediate crisis response.
Behavioral Wellness spokeswoman Suzanne Grimmesey said that, as of a week ago, the Access Line has not received any transfer calls from 988 yet, but it is still early and the new number is still getting started.
“We have a pretty robust access line,” Grimmesey told Noozhawk. “But it never hurts to have more resources.”
Grimmesey said that when people call 911 with a mental health emergency, co-response teams — which consist of law enforcement and a mental health professional — respond.
“So often you’ll see people listing five different numbers [for suicide prevention or crisis hotlines], and it can make it confusing,” Grimmesey said. “So, by listing 988, that makes it easy.”
The Access Line serves individuals in the county who have Medi-Cal, who can call at any time in a crisis or even just to get started and connected with mental health resources.
Grimmesey also told Noozhawk that “behind the scenes,” screeners who answer calls to the Access Line sit in the same facility as the department’s crisis team.
“It’s designed that way intentionally so it’s very easy — when there’s a crisis — to get things moving very quickly,” Grimmesey said.
Behavioral Wellness works in collaboration with other organizations to provide behavioral and mental health services to children and adults with moderate to severe mental health problems. Services range from outpatient specialty mental health services — assessment, medication management and case management — to inpatient and crisis services, all of which is based on levels of care.
Grimmesey said that Behavioral Wellness’s highest level of care for adults is its assertive community treatment teams.
The department’s community wellness team also provides trauma response work and community recovery after disasters or traumatic events within the community.
Grimmesey said that Medi-Cal beneficiaries dealing with low to moderate mental illness should contact CenCal, which can connect them with resources, while individuals with private insurance should call their insurance.
Crisis services provided by Behavioral Wellness are available to anyone, however, and those who are uninsured can call its Access Line, which can point them in the right direction to receive services at a low cost.
More information on local resources and Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness is available on the department’s website. Its 24/7 crisis response and services Access Line is 888.868.1649.
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.