rates in the nation . When a call is placed , the caller will hear a greeting message while the call is routed to their nearest state call center based on area code . Once he or she answers , a counselor will listen to the caller to identify the problem , provide support and share resources if needed .
If the nearest call center is unable to take the call , it will be routed to a national backup call center . Crisis call centers provide services in English and Spanish and translation services for over 250 other languages . Currently , text and chat are available in English only .
What 988 Means for Mississippi
Bailey said she is excited for what the launch of 988 means to Mississippi .
“ Each life lost to suicide impacts families , friends and entire communities ,” she said . “ 988 is now another way to help us prevent these losses . Since the Lifeline began in 2005 , it has served as an invaluable resource , providing free and confidential support to those in suicidal crisis or emotional distress .”
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health worked diligently in the last several years to increase the state ’ s Lifeline call center answer rate . Additionally , they have focused on improving access to the state ’ s two crisis service programs : the Mobile Crisis Response Teams and Crisis Stabilization Units .
“ This includes having statewide mobile crisis response teams provided by the Community Mental Health Centers and enhancing the funding and training for those teams over the last year ,” Bailey said . “ We also are working to develop formal protocols for dispatching these teams when calls come to 988 and a face-to-face response is necessary .”
The Department of Mental Health has shifted funding from state hospitals to Community Mental Health Centers to make more crisis stabilization beds available and allow centers to make enhancements .
The state currently has 14 Crisis Stabilization Units and 184 beds with plans to add another 72 beds in the next two years , Bailey said .
For more information about
988 , visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website at http :// www . samhsa . gov / find-help / 988 .
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis , help is available . Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline . org . Mental Health First Aid While 988 is essential to intervening in crises , Extension ’ s Mental Health First Aid training provides individuals with the skills to notice and to reach out to farmers who may not ask for help themselves — hopefully before an acute crisis strikes .
Mental Health First Aid offerings are part of the PROM- ISE Initiative , an opioid-misuse prevention program focused on enhancing mental health among rural populations , especially agricultural producers . PROMISE , which stands for “ Preventing Opioid Misuse In the SouthEast ,” is led by a multidisciplinary team of Extension professionals . For more information about Mental Health First Aid training , visit the MSU Extension website at https :// bit . ly / 3OYPkhF or contact your local Extension office .
“ With this program , we are continuing to work on reducing the stigma around seeking services and educating local professionals about the unique challenges that our agricultural communities face ,” Buys said . www . meridianstar . com
• 69