988 suicide prevention number: There’s a new national hotline for mental health. How will we pay for it?
FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, a man uses a cellphone in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) (Jenny Kane)
The mental health version of 911 is set to launch nationwide next month with hopes it will be a game changer for suicide prevention and other emergencies, but some mental health professionals worry they will not be ready to handle the anticipated flood of calls.
“We have all of the technology,” said Jennifer Piver, the executive director of Mental Health America of Greenville County in South Carolina. “We do not have the funding for staff, for salaries.”
The new national three-digit number — 988 — is meant to connect people in mental health crises with those who are specially trained to respond to such situations. The easy-to-remember number launches July 16 .
Read more from NBC News.
Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
Suspect in Spring ISD student kidnapping faces new sexual abuse charge involving child ▶ 1:03
Suspect in Spring ISD student kidnapping faces new sexual abuse charge involving child
El Nino looks to return in 2026. Here's what that would mean for Houston ▶ 1:12
El Nino looks to return in 2026. Here's what that would mean for Houston
Top headlines ▶ 1:51
Top headlines
The lines above Houston ▶ 1:16
The lines above Houston
Conroe judge facing DWI charge hosts campaign event, avoids questions about criminal history ▶ 0:29
Conroe judge facing DWI charge hosts campaign event, avoids questions about criminal history
Convicted felon accused of sexually assaulting high schooler after offering ride to police station ▶ 0:53
Convicted felon accused of sexually assaulting high schooler after offering ride to police station
Houston's forecast for MLK Day! ▶ 0:26
Houston's forecast for MLK Day!
8-year-old boy reports sexual assault at NRG Stadium during Texans game ▶ 0:42
8-year-old boy reports sexual assault at NRG Stadium during Texans game
This week in Houston temperatures ▶ 0:54
This week in Houston temperatures
Longer days are coming to Houston ▶ 1:29
Longer days are coming to Houston
Heaven’s 27 Foundation: Turning Tragedy into Camp Safety Reform ▶ 1:07
Heaven’s 27 Foundation: Turning Tragedy into Camp Safety Reform
Texans prepare for Patriots in divisional round after wild card win ▶ 0:52
Texans prepare for Patriots in divisional round after wild card win
Texas investigates grocery chains over undisclosed pesticide-like spray on produce ▶ 1:04
Texas investigates grocery chains over undisclosed pesticide-like spray on produce
Driver killed in crash involving wrecker truck on Katy Freeway near Studemont ▶ 0:43
Driver killed in crash involving wrecker truck on Katy Freeway near Studemont
Top headlines ▶ 2:07
Top headlines
Cedar fever and your allergies ▶ 2:07
Cedar fever and your allergies
Court docs say suspect in UH campus bank robbery kidnapped, sexually assaulted Baytown employee ▶ 0:41
Court docs say suspect in UH campus bank robbery kidnapped, sexually assaulted Baytown employee
17-year-old charged with murder rolls eyes at judge ▶ 1:14
17-year-old charged with murder rolls eyes at judge
Beautiful winter week in Houston ▶ 0:43
Beautiful winter week in Houston
Crews work to contain massive fire at church building off of North Freeway ▶ 0:32
Crews work to contain massive fire at church building off of North Freeway
Two Cold Fronts Hit Houston: What to Expect This Week in Weather ▶ 0:49
Two Cold Fronts Hit Houston: What to Expect This Week in Weather
Woman is using United Way to help her get to financial freedom ▶ 1:14
Woman is using United Way to help her get to financial freedom
Top headlines for Jan. 12 ▶ 1:41
Top headlines for Jan. 12
26.2 miles. Thousands of reasons. 🏃♀️🏃♂️ ▶ 2:07
26.2 miles. Thousands of reasons. 🏃♀️🏃♂️
HPD: Man with felony warrant resists arrest leading to officer shooting ▶ 0:44
HPD: Man with felony warrant resists arrest leading to officer shooting
Previous photo Next photo