July 19th @ 1:30pm
**Public Announcement - National Suicide Hotline**
Many remember earlier the transition to having to dial 406 prior to any number in Montana, and this is the reason why.
On a national level, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has transitioned over to dialing "988" to reach their crucial service.
Please read the public info below regarding this transition:
On July 16, 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline—will transition from its previous ten-digit phone number to the 988 dialing code.
What is 988?
988 is a 3-digit dialing code for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Lifeline), where compassionate, accessible care and support are available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. People in crisis can call or text 988, or use the webchat available at 988lifeline.org.
The goals for the Lifeline are to:
• Provide immediate, confidential counseling to someone in distress
• De-escalate suicidal or distressed thoughts
• Connect people with local resources, when appropriate
Who answers 988 calls?
The Lifeline is a network of 200+ independent crisis centers across the US and territories. These centers are staffed by trained crisis counselors who are supervised during every shift by a licensed mental health professional.
How will 988 and 911 work together?
In rare but critical circumstances—less than 2% of contacts—counselors will determine via their protocols that someone is at imminent risk of harming themselves or someone else. In these situations, the Lifeline will contact 911 to dispatch emergency services.
Original source can be found here.
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