If you attended Pride Weekend earlier this year in Minneapolis, you may have seen Greater Twin Cities United Way staff helping spread the word about our important crisis response and community resource services.
As the director of United Way’s partnership with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, tabling at Pride was particularly special to me. All weekend, our staff spoke with attendees who told us about the impact that 988 has made in the lives of their friends and families. Many shared their own deeply personal stories with us about the help that 988 was able to give.
It’s an important reminder for all of us. In the last two years, our 988 call specialists have responded to more than 40,000 calls and texts. Each of these callers is someone’s friend, neighbor, sibling or child.
For some, reaching out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was a turning point, helping them navigate suicidal thoughts and establish a personal safety plan. For others, it served as the first step in gaining a deeper understanding of their mental health concerns. In every instance, 988 call specialists are there, providing a compassionate, listening ear to support our community through their most challenging moments.
Previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline officially launched in July 2022. As the designated Lifeline Center for the Twin Cities region, United Way call specialists field 988 calls from across the metro. (Close to 90 percent of 988 calls in the Twin Cities are answered by local call specialists.)
This effort is made possible through our partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), which began in January 2021. This partnership was a natural extension of Greater Twin Cities United Way’s work managing the statewide 211 Resource Helpline – and our ability to assemble a team of trained, empathetic call specialists for callers in sensitive situations.
To meet the public demand for 988’s services, our team has grown dramatically. Today, 988 employs 31 call specialists to provide free, confidential, round-the-clock support.
Learn more about our work with 988 in MPR News.
While the factors contributing to suicide prevention are complex, we know that services like 988 play a vital role in allowing people to get the help they need. In August, the Minnesota Department of Health released its preliminary 2023 data, showing a decline in the rate of deaths by suicide. While it is too early to call this a trend or to define the specific causes, it is welcomed news.
Even so, one death by suicide is still too many. There is more work to be done as we continue to strengthen the important work of 988 in our community.
I’m excited to share that this is only the beginning of our work with 988. Earlier this year, we renewed our partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, with an agreement to continue this work through 2029.
We’re also in the final stages of accreditation with the American Association of Suicidology, providing a third-party analysis of our policies and practices to ensure our efforts are fully aligned with national suicide prevention experts and the best practices in the mental health field.
While our current 988 operations are fully funded by the state, Greater Twin Cities United Way’s partnership with MDH would not have been possible without foundational early investments to develop our strategy and build our capacity for crisis response. Our donors play a vital role in sustaining these partnerships, and in allowing us to explore new ones. You can help deepen our impact in community by making a gift to our Annual Fund today.
Finally, a reminder that 988 is available for everyone. If you or someone you know needs support , please call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for free, confidential help 24/7.
