The new mental health hotline 9-8-8 is operational across the United States. It offers a straightforward way for individuals experiencing mental health crises to seek help by calling or texting.
This hotline serves as an alternative to 911, offering a specialized response for mental health emergencies. Health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee and Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber discuss the functionality of 9-8-8, the broader U.S. mental health system, and the implications for those in crisis.
Additional Resources
Below are some other hotlines and resources available, although the list is not exhaustive and some services may have geographical limitations.
- BlackLine: Tailored for Black, Black LGBTQ+, brown, Native, and Muslim communities.
- Kiva Centers: Offers daily online peer support groups.
- M.H. First Oakland and M.H. First Sacramento: Available during select weekend hours in Oakland and Sacramento, California.
- Peer Support Space: Hosts virtual peer support groups twice daily from Monday to Saturday.
- Project LETS: Provides text support for urgent situations involving involuntary hospitalization.
- Samaritans of New York: A local hotline in New York City.
- Trans Lifeline: Designed for trans and questioning individuals.
- Wildflower Alliance: Offers a peer support line and online groups focusing on suicide prevention.
For more updates, follow Short Wave on Twitter at @NPRShortWave or contact them via email at [email protected].
This episode was produced by Thomas Lu, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checking by Berly McCoy. The audio engineering was handled by Josh Newell.
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