The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) are set to host a news conference on the federally mandated crisis number, 988, on Thursday, July 14th.
On Saturday, July 16th, 2022, 988 will go live as a new national three-digit dialing code for reaching the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The current long-form phone number of 800-273-TALK will also continue to be an option.
Speakers include:
- FSSA Secretary Dan Rusyniak, M.D.
- DMHA Executive Director of Prevention, Suicide Prevention and
- Crisis Response, Chris Drapeau, Ph.D.
- Janell Lane, MA, LMHC, President & Co-founder Courageous Healing, Inc.
- Gil Peri, President of Riley Children’s Health
The news conference broadcast will be simulcast on the FSSA YouTube channel.
What it will mean, throughout the coming years, is:
- A simple, short number for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.
- The establishment of mobile crisis teams who are trained and skilled in responding to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress.
- Mobile crisis teams are comprised of behavioral health professionals and peers skilled in providing specialized crisis care to people on site in their community.
- A greater ability to refer Hoosiers in crisis to a network of local crisis specialists who are familiar with the community and better equipped to provide culturally competent support and referrals to local resources and other lifesaving follow-up care.
