DETROIT – The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide in July 2022 and recent data reveals Michigan is ranked in the top ten largest volume of calls into the line.
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988 is a 24-hour mental health crisis line offering free and confidential support and resources. When you dial 988 it automatically routes you to a call center in the state that matches your area code.
The organization, along with Vibrant Emotional Health, tracks the numbers monthly including the average time it takes to pick up those calls.
“We (in Michigan) answer the calls in about 17 seconds,” said Jill Smith, senior director of Michigan Crisis and Access Line at Common Ground. “We pride ourselves on moving people from crisis to hope here at Common Ground.”
The Oakland County-based resource and crisis center answers 988 calls from 81 counties in Michigan; anything from suicide crisis to lack of resources for everyday life.
“We’re (state of Michigan) averaging about 7,000 calls a month, about a year and a half ago that was probably closer to four or 5,000 calls a month,” said Smith. “So we are definitely reaching and helping more and Michiganders as this program (988) has launched.”
“We’re averaging about 7,000 calls a month,” Smith said. “About a year and a half ago, that was probably closer to 4,000-5,000 calls a month. We are definitely reaching and helping more Michiganders as this program has launched.”
She said about 67% of their callers note they feel less distress to no distress by the end of the call.
In November 2023, according to the monthly report, Michigan received the sixth-largest amount of 988 calls. Smith believes it sheds light on the great need for resources.
“Sure, there’s always room for increase in crisis services and mental health, I think most people would agree with that. But I also know that the state of Michigan is very much committed to three pillars of crisis care: which is somewhere to go, someone to talk to you and someone to respond. We are someone to talk to, mobile crisis teams in the state of Michigan are someone to respond and there’s crisis stabilization units coming up in the state of Michigan for somewhere to go,”
Other states with large numbers of calls include New York, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida.
For a look at November’s report as well as previous reports, click here and visit the state-based monthly reports tab.