PROVIDENCE – A $130,000 grant announced in January is to be used to help Rhode Island connect to an updated National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The funding, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 State Planning Grant, was awarded by Vibrant Emotional Health, a nonprofit administrator for the suicide prevention organization.
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The R.I. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals plans to use the money to develop plans for the state to access Lifeline’s new 988 number. The code will replace the suicide prevention hotline’s current telephone number of 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The change is expected to go into effect in July 2022.
“We thank Vibrant Emotional Health for the planning grant to work with our community partners in implementing the national three-digit dialing code 988,” said BHDDH Director A. Kathryn Power. “On average, one Rhode Islander dies by suicide every three days in our state and we need to reverse that trend. We are hopeful that 988 will assist anyone in crisis to find a connection to needed services and save lives.”
Prior to the launch of the new number, BHDDH aims to work with emergency services, behavioral health providers and many others to map out coordination, capacity funding and communications for the 988 system in the Ocean State.
Rhode Islanders in need of mental health services can also call 401-414-5465 to reach the state’s mental health triage center.
Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.
