Iowa calls to 988 mental health hotline more than double in first year

In the first year of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Iowa calls have more than doubled.

Since July 16, 2022, more than 31,000 Iowans contacted 988 by phone, text or chat to seek mental health support, reported Foundation 2 Crisis Services and CommUnity Crisis Services, the Eastern Iowa agencies that field calls from across the state.

This is up from about 12,000 calls a year in past years.

“This is the universal number, wherever you are, whatever you need,” said Emily Blomme, chief executive officer of Foundation 2, based in Cedar Rapids.

Last summer, the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was cut to three digits — 988 — to make it easier for people to connect with help. When a person with an Iowa area code calls, they are routed to Foundation 2 or CommUnity, an Iowa City-based nonprofit.

Several factors have contributed to the dramatic rise in calls, Blomme said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans opened up about their mental health needs, which reduced the stigma of mental illness.

“There was more talk about it, more transparency around mental health,” Blomme said.

The 988 number removes the barrier of having to know a 10-digit number — which was different in every state. That change has made it easier for people to find help fast, she said.

In more than 97 percent of contacts answered by the nonprofits in the last year, the issue was handled by the crisis counselor over the phone, chat or text, the agencies reported. In other cases, when further support is needed, the counselor can help the caller to local resources, such as a mobile crisis unit.

Between July 2021 and May 2022, 62 percent of Iowans who reached out to 988 for help reported experiencing a mental health crisis, 33 percent reported emotional distress, and 5 percent reported having a suicide-related concern, the agencies reported Monday.

The crisis line, launched in 2005, is administered by Vibrant Emotional Health on behalf of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Vibrant estimated a significant boost in texts, as well as chats from the national suicide prevention website, because of the increase in marketing and awareness that will come with the 988 rollout, The Gazette reported last July.

Foundation 2 still is short on counselors to answer lifeline calls, Blomme said.

“We still are seeing challenges with getting qualified people and there are challenges with turnover,” she said. While being a crisis counselor is rewarding, it can also take an emotional toll.

The statewide goal is to answer calls within 30 seconds. If there is not an Iowa-based counselor available to respond within that time, the call is routed to a crisis counselor in another state.

Although both the Iowa nonprofits fielding 988 calls are in the Corridor, they have relationships with other service providers and can share that contact information with callers. They also use Your Life Iowa facility finder to connect callers with services in their area.

Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com