Is the nation ready for a new mental health hotline? Rand Corporation recently surveyed 180 officials to determine if they are prepared for the launch. Among the findings:

More than half reported that they were not involved with the development of a strategic plan related to the launch of 988.
Only around 16% of respondents reported that they had a budget to support 988 operations.
Approximately 85% said there was a mental health emergency response hotline or call center operating in their jurisdiction, although fewer than half of those hotlines were reported as part of the Lifeline network.

Regarding the continuum of mental health emergency care:

Forty-eight percent of survey respondents' jurisdictions had a short-term crisis stabilization program.
Only 28% possessed urgent care units for mental health
Only 22% of jurisdictions have crisis call centers or hotlines that can schedule intake and outpatient appointments on behalf of individuals in need.
Of those jurisdictions with hotlines, a majority contained staff specifically trained to interact with children and adolescents.
A minority had training to interact with other special populations, such as individuals experiencing homelessness (46%) or LGBTQ individuals (45%).

"Overall, the survey indicates that many agencies at state and local levels are not prepared to meet an increased need, and policymakers and administrators will need to work quickly if they wish to be ready before the number goes live in July 2022," the report concluded. "Our results show that there is room for improvement with respect to strategic planning, financial preparedness and the availability of services and system coordination. These findings highlight areas of need that will be relevant for jurisdictions to address both prior to the launch of 988 in July 2022 and in the months that follow."

Instant Insights /

Facing looming mental health hotline deadline, local agencies have work to do

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