The Concerns Looming Over The 988 Mental Health Hotline

Dialing for help in a mental health crisis just got shorter. Now, Americans can dial 988 for assistance in an emergency instead of a previous 10-digit number directing them to the national suicide prevention hotline.However, some concerns emerged during the service's rollout. There are questions about how local call centers will continue to fund these efforts long-term after the initial funding runs dry.And questions about police intervention have spurred fears, especially in the queer and Black communities.We talk about the new hotline and how leaders and call centers are addressing these concerns.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.