The existing network of crisis help lines is expanding with the launch of the new 988 system, which is designed to make it much easier to get help that even a simple phone call can provide. Assistant State Health Secretary, Michele Roberts, says “Nationally, data has shown that 98% of these situations,” Roberts says, “the crisis can be resolved and the immediate needs answered by talking to a trained 988 call center staff.”
Roberts says the other 2% can be linked to immediate community mental health or substance services, including a mobile response team, or to 911 if there’s an imminent threat, but Roberts says another goal is to take calls that don’t necessarily need 911 or a police response. Roberts says, “It is, over time, looking to see how do we help make sure people who are in a mental health crisis or want to support someone in a mental health crisis know how to easily access the services.”
There are three call centers in Washington State. One in King County, one for parts of eastern Washington and one that covers the remainder of the state. Your call will be routed to one of those depending on where your number is located. If you have a cell phone with an out-of-state area code, your call will land in that area’s call center, but it can be rerouted to a local center. The service is offered in English and Spanish with interpreter services for a couple hundred other languages. There are also text and chat services, which are currently limited to English with plans to expand them to other languages as well.
Roberts says the next step will soon come to state lawmakers: the possible addition of access to next-day appointments for someone who’s really struggling.
You can see Ryan Harris’ complete interview with Assistant Secretary Roberts below:
