Some days I am glad I get the Sunday Seattle Times print edition. (Others I feel that I have unnecessarily killed a 🌲 )

Today is one of the former.

I otherwise may have missed learning about the 2022 launch of a nation-wide crisis system, the 988 hotline. The system’s big sky goal is to consolidate phone services from veterans to youth, callers seeking substance abuse resources to the lonely caller just wanting a kind human connection.
What’s different? From there, callers would be given actionable ideas from yet-to-be-built connectivity solutions, like next day counselor scheduling.

Sounds lofty.

If it were to work, the crisis call centers for various groups would be part of a hub system connected to in-person emergency assistance options, like how many available beds there are at nearby hospitals. That’s really useful information to in-person first responders and mental health workers on the phone, alike.

It sounds like the Administration is investing in the national mental health crisis. For that I give my Sunday night shoutout. My hope is that these lofty goals are supported by real plans to react to — and help — those who need it most.

I imagine the public relations campaign for callers to differentiate between 988 and 911 when dialing is going to take some time. Washington state estimates the 988 hotline’s 35 full-time staff will answer 128,000 calls the first year.

Before the calls can be answered, the mental health worker staff needs to be trained, another challenge facing program administrators. There is another national crisis, that is, hiring and retention challenges especially with Covid burnout world, for underpaid and overstressed first responders.

Seattle is gearing up for a 988 hotline national launch July 16.

Until then, here is another resource, for text: