As of July 16, 2022, you can call, text, or chat 988 to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). It will be confidential, free, and available 24/7/365. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotion distress.

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

CROP

The vision of CROP is to break the stigma surrounding mental health and expand prevention and early intervention efforts in our state by bringing national and Mississippi-based 988 messaging into our training, events, and outreach.

CROP is a community-based partnership between the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Mississippi Public Health Institute and local churches.

Equipping our faith-based community with…

• Knowledge to recognize warning signs
• Open the door for conversations
• Connect those in need with tools and resources

To learn more about CROP, or to become a partner, please click the button below.

988 Study Commission

The first meeting of the Study Commission on the 988 Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response System was held Tuesday, August 30 at 10 a.m., as a virtual meeting conducted through GoToMeeting. Watch a recording of this meeting in the video below.

The Study Commission was created as a result of HB 732 during the 2022 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature. The commission’s goal includes assessing the statewide crisis response system and making recommendations to remove barriers to accessing behavioral health crisis services, adequately funding the crisis response services system and supporting sustainability of call centers, proposing strategies and supporting investment in new technology to triage calls, and more.

The commission is comprised of numerous state officials, including the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health, the State Health Officer or the Deputy Director of the State Department of Health, the Chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee or a designee, the Chair of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee or a designee, and more. Additional representatives include those from public safety, law enforcement, public services, and other fields.

Read below for frequently asked questions about 988, as well as information about the 988 Planning Coalition that was established in Mississippi.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five US adults experience a mental illness each year, and 431,000 adults in Mississippi have a mental health condition. On average, 1 person in the U.S. dies by suicide every 11 minutes. In Mississippi, 421 lives were lost to suicide and 107,000 adults had thoughts of suicide in the last year.

In August 2019, FCC staff—in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the North American Numbering Council—released a report recommending the use of 988 as the 3-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In July 2020, the FCC adopted rules designating this new phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. The transition will result in phone service providers directing all 988 calls to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022.

• Report and Order
• 988 Fact Sheet: [ English| Spanish ]
• 988 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Flyer

In February 2021, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) announced the receipt of $125,000 in funding toward planning for the implementation of the 988 dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The grant funds have been used to help Mississippi Lifeline call centers prepare for infrastructure needs, volume growth, training and educating staff, data collection, as well as access to the Lifeline’s new 988 number. The funding comes from Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the 988 State Planning Grant.

The state of Mississippi, through the leadership of the DMH and in collaboration with other state agencies, has been on a multi-year journey to expand crisis services throughout the state and remains committed to continuing to advance the development of an integrated, coordinated crisis system of care that engages with system partners. The ultimate goal is to work tirelessly to find ways to build the crisis system so that all children/youth, adults, and families have access to crisis care when needed – a place to call, someone to respond, and a place to go.

Mississippi has 24/7 primary and backup coverage for every county in the state through its two Lifeline centers, CONTACT The Crisis Line and CONTACT Helpline. Mississippi routed 18,079 Lifeline calls between June 2020 and June 2021.

Mississippi also has mobile teams and crisis centers throughout the state. There are opportunities to continue to expand these services over time and to develop ways to facilitate seamless and efficient connectivity between crisis services and crisis system partners (e.g., 911, law enforcement, emergency departments, etc.).

The Planning Coalition for the 988 Implementation has included representatives from DMH, and representatives from the following organizations have been invited to participate as well:

Participants have also included representatives from Mississippi’s Community Mental Health Centers in Region 2, Region 4, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, and Region 12, as well as community representatives who have lived experience with suicide. Click here for a full list of Planning Coalition members.

The Planning Coalition submitted a draft of the 988 Implementation Plan to Vibrant on September 30, 2021. The goals and action steps outlined in this 988 Implementation Plan will support Mississippi in continuing to develop an integrated coordinated crisis system of care that is available to all children/youth, adults, and families throughout Mississippi. Following are some highlights of action steps outlined in this plan intended to develop crisis services and develop a coordinated crisis system within Mississippi:

• Explore additional resources to close the service and funding gaps, including the use of federal and state opportunities
• Add additional staff to the Lifeline centers to meet the anticipated demand, as funding is available
• Expand technology to utilize the most efficient approaches and enhance the data collection and monitoring approaches
• Support Lifeline centers in meeting the 988 operational, clinical, and training standards
• Monitor crisis metrics to determine the responsiveness of the 988 call centers and other crisis services, so that the experience of crisis care is measured and reported on
• Facilitate the engagement of stakeholders to implement the 988 Implementation Plan and ensures that the voices of those with lived experience are front and center
• Work with 911 and law enforcement and other first responders to build out the coordinated crisis system
• Develop a centralized up-to-date referral approach and advance the approach to use technology over time, addressing the unique needs of diverse populations
• Develop crisis care work processes/flows across and between crisis services that facilitates timely, effective, and efficient services, utilizing technology where applicable
• Develop and mobilize a marketing and communication plan to inform Mississippians and crisis system partners about the 988 crisis line

Click here to read the 988 Implementation Plan.

Click the links below to read minutes from the Planning Coalition meetings.