988 suicide prevention hotline debuts Saturday amid NJ's demand for mental health services
A three-digit suicide prevention hotline — 988 — will debut nationwide Saturday, at a time when New Jersey is still experiencing an unprecedented demand for mental health services and staffing shortages.
The new number replaces the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to give those in crisis an easier way to seek help, along with easing the number of mental health calls placed to 911 emergency centers.
"Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis will only need to remember these three numbers to reach trained counselors," said Sarah Adelman, commissioner of the state Department of Human Services.
But how fast someone will be able to get the long-term help they need is a big question.
Providers — from psychiatrists in private practice to large addiction centers and a group that represents thousands of licensed social workers — have said they've been overwhelmed for two years, when anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social isolation created enormous demand.
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Add to that a staffing shortage, and waiting lists to see a provider can stretch for one to two months. Some counselors have long been at or above capacity and have stopped taking new patients.
"988 can really provide a tremendous starting point for people needing all types of care," said Kristine Pendy, chief clinical officer for behavioral health at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. "But right now we're seeing a staffing crisis nationwide. If you don’t have the staff, you can only go so far with the number of patients you can serve."
Someone calling or texting 988 will be directed to the closest of 200 crisis call centers nationwide. Rutgers University will serve as one of 12 backup centers across the nation that will handle overflow calls made to 988 starting Saturday. The school has plenty of experience, having operated New Jersey's Hopeline, the state’s suicide prevention hotline at 855-654-6735, for nine years.
William Zimmerman, program manager for the Hopeline and the new Rutgers backup center, said the potential benefit of 988 is tremendous. "During a crisis, quick access to support and care can prevent death by suicide," he said.
The budget signed last month by Gov. Phil Murphy includes nearly $29 million to help support the hotline.
But as in many other sectors, hiring managers say they have had a hard time filling mental health positions, especially those that require more experience.
Demand is particularly strong among children, adolescents and young people. New Jersey hospitals and clinics have seen an uptick in those seeking help for stress, depression, anxiety and other ailments in what the American Academy of Pediatrics has called a "national emergency."
"We're in a better position than a lot of other states, because we have had resources here for a long time," Pendy said. "We have screening centers. We have mobile outreach. The pandemic is really testing that."
New Jersey suicides
New Jersey has a slightly lower suicide rate compared with the nationwide average. It was the 15th leading cause of death in 2020, compared with 12th for the U.S.
2012: 683
2013: 757
2014: 786
2015: 789
2016: 688
2017: 795
2018: 778
2019: 762
2020: 679
2021: 778
Sources: NJ Department of Health; NJ Department of Human Services
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ 988 suicide prevention hotline debuts as mental health service
