Michigan marks 2 years of 988 crisis hotline, but awareness lags nationwide

• Michigan marked the second anniversary of the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• The MDHHS joined the nationwide initiative in 2022. It was previously known as the National Suicide Prevention line 
• Over 9,000 calls are received monthly in Michigan and over 88,000 calls have been answered in the last year

It’s been two years since the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which provides resources to those struggling with mental health-related issues, as well as special services for veterans and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. 

Now the challenge is to make more people aware that it exists. 

The 988 nationwide hotline routes callers to local call centers in Michigan. Residents can still call the National Suicide and Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 and receive the same services.

In the last year, Michigan’s 988 lifeline received about 9,000 calls per month and call specialists have answered over 88,000 calls, according to health department director Elizabeth Hertel. 

“Over 1.5 million adults in Michigan currently have a mental health condition, and strengthening crisis care and mental health services continues to be a top priority for MDHHS,” she said in a press statement. “ We encourage anyone experiencing a crisis, whether personally or one of their family members, to use this resource whenever needed.”

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• School officials ‘appalled’ by Michigan budget cut to mental health, safety

Among the states with the highest call volumes, Michigan was the quickest to answer calls, doing so within 17 seconds, according to the news release. 

While the state has seen an increase in the number of 988 callers, Bob Sheehan, CEO for the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan said there is still more that can be done to spread the word. 

The more schools, colleges and employers know about the service the better, Sheehan said. 

Once the line becomes more publicized, especially since it is so easy to remember, more people will begin to call, Sheehan added. “Increases of 988 (calls), then will be a reflection  … of folks being willing to admit they have mental health needs,” he said. 

A 2023 survey conducted for Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit focused on providing data that informs public policy, found that only 13% of U.S. adults knew about the 988 lifeline. 

The National League of Cities recommends that local governments promote  public awareness, including campaigns geared toward people who identify as LGBTQ+ and non-English speakers. 

In Michigan, the 988 call center is available in English, Spanish and more than 250 additional languages through a translation service. Text and chat are only available in English.

The Michigan Crisis and Access Line is the primary call center for the 988 Lifeline in Michigan with the exception of seven counties in the southern part of the state where there are regional 988 call centers and the Michigan Crisis and Access Line acts as a secondary call center for those areas. 

988 specialists spent more than 19,000 hours on the phone with Michigan residents. Over 48% of callers experienced high or overwhelming stress at the beginning of the call, but it had been reduced to 12% by the end of the call,  according to the MDHHS. 

The lifeline can assist people who are struggling with mental health-related issues, substance abuse, emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. 988 specialists can provide callers with resources like behavioral health services and referrals for follow-up care.