Hawaii joined the nation this weekend in adopting the new 988 dialing code for emergency calls pertaining to mental health and substance use.
The new phone number will help increase access to Hawaii CARES, a free mental health and substance use call center that links experts in the field to those in need. Calls can be made when an individual is experiencing: sadness or anxiety that is beginning to interfere with appetite, sleep, work or school; wants to take the first step toward curbing drug and alcohol addiction, or is experiencing suicidal thoughts.
“The 988 launch reflects a nationwide commitment to prioritizing mental health and increasing access to resources,” said Marian Tsuji, deputy director of behavioral health. “In Hawaii, 988 adds to the ways that people can reach the CARES Crisis Line. Our staff will continue to connect people across Hawaii with mental health and substance use recovery resources.”
Anyone experiencing these symptoms with an 808 area code can call 988 for direct access to Hawaii CARES. Individuals who call from a different area code while in Hawaii will be connected to a crisis center in their state.
“988 will provide easier access to Hawaii CARES and related crisis resources, which are distinct from the public safety purposes of 911 (where the focus is on dispatching Emergency Medical Services, fire and police as needed). If 911 services are needed, the crisis screener can connect callers to appropriate services,” said Kaitlin Chang, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.
For health officials, 988 is the next step toward alleviating the mental health crisis in the nation.
“988 is another path to connect individuals with existing services. It also symbolizes that nationwide, we are prioritizing mental health by creating a three digit, easy to remember number,” she said.
When someone calls 988, a CARES crisis screener will ask a few questions to get to know the specific situation and help to figure out next steps.
“This could include linking to support including, if appropriate, arranging for a Crisis Mobile Outreach (CMO) worker to meet with in person,” Chang said.
And help couldn’t come soon enough.
According to recent studies, COVID-19 has impacted depression and anxiety across the country, including Hawaii.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Hawaii residents have reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression compared to previous years, according to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“It is likely that the negative impact of the pandemic on Hawaii residents’ mental health, particularly compared to other states, can be partially explained by the harsh economic fallout associated with a limited tourism industry and subsequent job losses,” said Jack Barile, interim director of the Social Science Research Institute in the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Social Sciences. “And because Hawaii residents are often only a couple of paychecks away from being unable to cover their debts, any income loss can wreak havoc on their mental health.”
Hawaii CARES is part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of over 200 independent crisis centers equipped to help people in mental health related distress or experiencing a suicidal crisis. Since 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has received over 20 million calls from people in distress and looking for support.
In 2021, CARES received around 101,151 calls.
In 2018, Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act requiring the Federal Communications Commission and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study a three-digit hotline. Congress authorized the 988 code in 2020.
The number is intended to be easy to remember, in the hope that it will enable more people to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has relied on people dialing a 10-digit phone number, (800) 273-8255.
States were given a deadline of July 16 to adopt the new number. The old 10-digit number will remain operational.