Rutgers To Be Call Center for New Nat'l 988 Mental Health Crisis Line

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — This summer, Rutgers University was selected to be a back-up call center for the new national 9-8-8 mental health crisis line.

988 is a new national hotline for mental health crisis and suicide prevention; it launches July 16.

The Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care National Call Center has been selected to serve as one of 12 national backup centers that will triage overflow calls made to 9-8-8.

The launch of 988, which will be run by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is meant to reform the official response to a mental health emergency.

988 will connect to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) network of crisis centers.

The line will serve as an alternative to calling 9-1-1 or law enforcement for mental health crises.

People who are experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis can dial or text the three-digit number 24/7 to immediately connect with trained counselors who will assess the call and provide support, risk assessment, safety planning and referrals to local mental health treatment services or resources.

According to SAMHSA, there is roughly one death by suicide in America every 11 minutes and about 12 million people report seriously considering suicide each year.

“Rutgers has operated the New Jersey Hopeline, the state’s suicide prevention hotline, for the past 9 years and has experience in answering these calls,” said William Zimmerman, program manager for the NJ Hopeline and the new Lifeline national Back Up Center. “The potential benefit of 9-8-8 is tremendous. During a crisis, quick access to support and care can prevent death by suicide. This number will also help better reach underserved populations such as in rural areas and communities of color, which can lack mental health services.”

“However, not every area has a crisis center, and not all centers operate 24/7,” he continued. “If a local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller will be automatically routed to Rutgers or another national backup crisis center."