PSA: Kentucky residents can call, text suicide prevention lifeline 988 starting Saturday

Getting crisis help for suicide prevention will get a lot simpler for Kentuckians and others starting Saturday.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is transitioning from a 10-digit number to a simple, 3-digit one: 988.

The old, 10-digit number, 800-273-8255, will remain available and if called, will still route people to mental health professionals, said Martha Mather, CEO of UofL Health's Peace Hospital. The number is not just for people in crisis, she added. It's also for loved ones and caretakers who need advice or support.

The Federal Communications Commission approved 988 as the new suicide prevention lifeline number in 2020 with the goal of making crisis help more accessible. The number will connect people in need of help with experts 24/7 through both call and text options.

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Mental health is "certainly a subject and a topic that we need to address," Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday, adding that it's "certainly, now ... front and center" thanks to the pandemic.

"Just think about this as the 911 of mental health," Beshear said. "When you dial 911, they are connected and ready to send first responders in terms, often, of physical emergencies (or) sickness. This puts you directly in touch with experts and those trained in mental health to help you at that moment that may be the lowest moment for many people."

Folks calling 988 will be directed to one of 13 call centers in Kentucky based on their location.

"With this change, we do anticipate an increase in calls due to easier call number and text capabilities," Beshear said.

And that's a good thing, Mather said. It's "so positive for individuals to become more and more at ease talking about mental health and even substance use issues."

Nationwide, more than 2 million people called the lifeline in 2021. Mather said whereas Kentucky sees about 20,000 lifeline calls per year on average, that could more than double with the new 988 number.

Calls and texts are expected to double nationwide as well, according to projections from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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"I think this is a great thing and ... this has the potential of saving lives," Mather said, adding that benefits include intervention before a crisis occurs, lowering the use of law enforcement in mental health situations and destigmatizing the conversation around getting help for mental health issues.

Reach health reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: PSA: 988 national suicide prevention hotline launches