On July 16th, 2022, 988 will become the national three-digit phone number for all mental health, substance use, and suicide crises. 988 calls will be routed to South Dakota’s only National Suicide Prevention Lifeline center, The Helpline Center, transitioning from the current Lifeline number, 1-800- 273-8255. 988 will offer rapid access to behavioral health support through connection with trained crisis specialists.

When someone calls, chats, or texts 988, they can expect to be connected to a crisis specialist who is trained and prepared to deliver support to anyone experiencing a crisis. Because a crisis is defined by the person or family experiencing it, the crisis specialist will engage with the person to understand and address the person’s unique concerns and needs. The intervention may include assessment, stabilization, referral, and follow-up for individuals at high risk for suicide and/or poor mental health outcomes.

988 is opening the door to a robust crisis system that can de-escalate mental health crises and connect individuals to the most appropriate care. With 988 as the first component of our system, we hope to see:

• A change in the community response to behavioral health crises

• A decrease in suicides and other poor mental health outcomes

• A reduction in health care spending and use of law enforcement with more cost-effective early intervention

While 988 will be available nationally, it is up to each state to ensure crisis services are adequately funded and available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. The 988 Implementation Plan for South Dakota was finalized in January 2022 with the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Stakeholder Coalition. The Stakeholder group has key members from behavioral health crisis response and prevention services across the state.