At the national level, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) leads the 988 initiative in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to plan and implement this 3-digit telephone code to strengthen and expand the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In Connecticut, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services leads the state’s 988 initiative in partnership with the Department of Children and Families.
Preparing for full 988 implementation and operational readiness requires a shared national and statewide vision for crisis care systems that provide direct, life-saving services to all in need. 988 will connect people experiencing mental and emotional health distress and/or suicidal crisis to compassionate, accessible care and support in their own state. Ideally, as early as possible.
Since the late 1960s, 911 has been both a number and an access point for emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance. 988 will similarly be both a number and an access point for mental and emotional health distress and/or suicidal crisis services. The 988 number is scheduled to launch in July 2022, but it will take time to get the system up and running efficiently.
Fortunately, those implementing the 988 crisis service system have learned a great deal from the 911 system, and although Connecticut has a robust crisis service system to build off of, enhancements are occurring in preparation for the 988 system.
Connecticut will ensure that residents have someone to talk to, someone to respond and somewhere to go when needed. The enhancements and new services include: expansion of Mobile Crisis to 24 hours 7 days per week, adding mental health crisis care centers for all ages (similar to urgent care centers for medical needs), adult peer respite, peer support resources, and rapid access to treatment beds for youth.
The Statewide Call Center for all ages established at the United Way of CT provides:
Support over the phone. Call 211 and press 1 for crisis, then 1 for youth or 2 for adults. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Expanding to text and chat services.
Mental health screening and suicide risk assessment based on national best practices
Access to home and/or community-based services, and peer support resources
Collaborative safety planning
Follow-up contacts
Warm transfer to local youth or adult mobile crisis services for in-person services
Coordination with 911 rescue services
Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention Services for children and youth under 18 provides:
Rapid, urgent, face-to-face crisis response for children and their families expanding hours to 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Mental health screening and suicide risk assessment based on national best practices
Mobile Crisis Intervention Services – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Rapid Crisis Bed Access
Increased Short-term Crisis Stabilization Beds
Care Transition support from EDs
Community-Based Crisis Care Sites
Increased Peer Support Resources and Service Integration
Adult Services
Mobile Crisis Services – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Increased Short-term Crisis Stabilization Beds
Community-Based Crisis Care Sites
Increased Peer Support Resources and Service Integration
Promotion – Statewide Campaign
988/911 PSAP Intersection
988 necessitates consideration and clear documentation on how 988 will work cooperatively with public safety entities and Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) to effectively address mental health caller needs and response resource allocation.
The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) 911/988 Interactions Work Group seeks to provide call and information sharing solutions to ECCs and 988 call centers.
WG’s goal is to provide uniform best practices to stakeholders in the ECC environment and the new 988 system.
Address each entity’s roles and responsibilities
Identify the processes and training needed to properly handle mental health crises.
Define how the 988 system can interconnect and utilize the 911 system for accurate 988 call routing and support for text messaging to 988.
Call 211 for Mobile Crisis when:
You are considering going to or sending a person to the Emergency Department for a mental health evaluation.
You can’t reach the person’s mental health service provider during a crisis.
You have already called the police, but need mental health support as well. Calling the police does not exclude a Mobile Crisis response.
Mobile crisis can respond to a situation with police assistance or after police have stabilized a situation.
Call when any age person:
Threatens or is at risk for suicide
Threatens or is at risk for violence
Has been victimized/traumatized
Is in harms way without immediate assistance
Is behaviorally “acting out” or out of control.
Is in emotional or mental distress and/or uncommunicative
Is depressed and you are worried
Is having any other behavioral health crisis
Call when:
The person needs immediate police intervention (weapons involved, serious assault, etc.)
The person needs immediate medical attention (overdosed, currently intoxicated, seriously injured, or at immediate risk of suicide attempt, etc.)
Mobile crisis can respond to a situation with police assistance or after police have stabilized a situation. Calling the police does not exclude a mobile crisis response.
Youth Mobile Crisis
Adult Mobile Crisis