In 2020, Congress passed a new law to make 988 the nationwide three-digit number for mental health crisis and suicide prevention, operating through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. By July 2022, all telecommunications companies will be required to route 988 calls to the Lifeline, which has a nationwide network of call centers. Now, states need to work quickly to build their 988 crisis response systems to be able to respond effectively to mental health crisis calls.

The new Crisis system will impact all areas of professional mental health practice as the centralized crisis line will reshape referral mechanisms between emergency services, emergency rooms and mental health specialty care, and community mental health systems of care. Every year, millions of 911 calls involve a person experiencing an emergency related to a mental health or substance use disorder—situations often referred to as behavioral health crises. The new 988 system will likely reshape mental health calls to the 911 system. 

The shift from 911 to 988, and therefore a shift from a law enforcement response to mental health response to mental health emergencies, could have some significant shifts for communities of color. This panel discussion will educate attendees about the new 988 system, how the system is expected to roll out, and some potential impacts on Black communities. 

This information will help clinicians understand the system and how it might impact their practice.

1. Participants will be able to identify the major features in the development and goals of the new 988 crisis system.
2. Participants will be able to summarize the national rollout plan and examples of how individual states are tailoring the program.
3. Participants will demonstrate an understanding of the important implications of the new crisis system for Black communities.