988 Lifeline to Launch on July 16

Published on June 16, 2022

On July 16, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will launch in Kansas and across the U.S. Earlier this month, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill to provide funding and regulation for the hotline.

988 is specifically designed to be used in instances where a person is experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis. The hotline will be staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who will listen, provide support and connect callers to community resources. People who are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support can also contact 988.

Wyandotte County residents can call or text 988 for support or go online to 988lifeline.org to chat with a trained professional. Headquarters, Inc. in Lawrence, Kansas, will answer those messages. If a message comes in from someone in crisis who needs direct assistance, Headquarters will coordinate with Wyandot Behavioral Health Network to mobilize a crisis response team. For veterans, Spanish speaking, and individuals needing language translation services, those messages will be routed to a trained professional who can offer assistance.

“When someone is in crisis, they don’t always know where to turn for help,” says Randy Callstrom, Wyandot BHN President and CEO. “With 988, now they only have to remember 3 digits instead of 10. This is yet another step forward in making mental health care more accessible for everyone.”

988 will go live on July 16. Until that time, individuals needing support should continue to use the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. You can also reach out to Wyandot BHN’s 24/7 crisis line for support and resources by calling 913-788-4200.