KENTUCKY — Earlier this spring, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky received $340,000 dollars in grant funding to assist with planning and logistics for the nationwide transition to a simplified behavioral health crisis line known as 988.
In July 2022, the new 988 hotline will become the national dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, replacing the current 10-digit phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Lisa Willner represents part of Jefferson County in the state legislature and has been outspoken about the need to prioritize funding for mental health resources for K-12 and college students.
"You know, it's so vital that prioritize funding for mental health. This national hotline is so important when folks are needing help. They're often needing help now, and by the time somebody picks up a phone and calls the crisis hotline, they've been thinking about that for a while, and when they finally make that call, they need to be able to access a voice on the other end, someone with some expertise, someone who can connect them with resources, someone who can hear their concerns immediately. And so prioritizing that funding for this new national effort is incredibly important, many innovations," adds Willner.
ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY & CRISIS SUPPORT NUMBERS:
- Louisville Crisis and Information: 502-589-4313
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741741
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (10am-4am)
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE