July marks 2 years since national launch of mental health helpline, 988

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – July marks two years since the United States launched 988, a nationwide mental health crisis helpline.

According to the Harbor Point Behavioral Health Center in Portsmouth, since launch, 988 has received over 8 million calls nationwide. Virginia 988 states on their website that there has been an average of 7,933 calls per month in the Commonwealth.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also states that less than 2% of 988 calls require a response from emergency services, with most crises calls being de-escalated.

988 is confidential and available to use via phone, text or chat, day or night. Individuals facing a mental health crisis are able to talk to trained crisis counselors, and are typically connected quickly, according to SAMHSA.

Virginia 988 wants to remind people that calling 988 can be an entry point to Virginia’s Crisis Services, which includes mobile crisis response, community-based stabilization, crisis stabilization units, emergency services and REACH, the statewide crisis system of care for people with developmental disabilities.