Contra Costa County Urges Residents to Use 988 Lifeline Amid Surge in Mental Health Calls
Local authorities and advocates in Contra Costa County are urging residents to promote awareness of the 988 Lifeline during National Suicide Prevention Month. This comes as demand for mental health resources has surged, with the Crisis Center handling a significant increase in calls.
The Crisis Center, which managed over 70,000 calls last fiscal year across 19 different helplines, has seen a 79% increase in 988 calls since July 2022. Nearly 22,000 calls were made in the past year alone. In July, the center handled 6,700 calls and projects to exceed 80,000 calls by the end of the year.
Elaine Cortez Schroth, Executive Director, notes the rising demand for local mental health insurance. To meet this increased need, the Crisis Center will launch a new text and chat platform in October, providing more immediate assistance. Residents can access these services and support local mental health initiatives at crisis-center.org.
The Crisis Center urges residents to spread awareness of the 988 Lifeline during National Suicide Prevention Month. With the upcoming launch of the new text and chat platform, and the expected increase in call volume due to geo-routing, the center is committed to providing more accessible mental health support. The first annual 988 Day, on September 8, 2024, will further highlight the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with the theme 'No Judgment. Just Help'.
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