ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Today marks 988 Day, dedicated to raising awareness about the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 number, which replaced 1-800-237-TALK, has been active for three years. Goodwill of the Finger Lakes operates the local 988 call center.
Deb Turner, director of the local 988 call center, said they serve the Greater Rochester region and six other counties. Last year, they provided nearly 20,000 counseling sessions through calls, texts, and chats.
Turner said the program has seen an increase in calls since switching to the 988 number. She attributed this to people finding the three-digit number easier to remember than the previous nine-digit 1-800 number.
The 988 service is designed for anyone experiencing any type of mental health crisis, not just those contemplating suicide. This includes issues like anxiety, depression, substance use, and family problems.
“We take an average of 2,200 interactions a month. So that’s calls, chats, and texts,” Turner said. “For most of our chats and texts, it’s a lot of youth reaching out who are struggling to pick up the phone and have a conversation. That tends to be the medium they’re most comfortable with.”
Turner also said prison systems are increasingly using 988 services to provide counseling to inmates.
While suicide can affect anyone, the most recent data from the CDC shows significant disparities between men and women. In 2023, male suicide rates were four times higher than female rates, with men comprising 80% of all suicides despite being 50% of the population.
The 988 Lifeline provides service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People can call or text the number or visit 988lifeline.org.
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