New 988 hotline is the 911 for mental health emergencies

Quick help for suicidal thoughts and other mental health emergencies is now only three digits away. Minnesotans can now call or text 988 to connect with a trained mental health counselor.

Dr. Dan Reidenberg Executive Director of Minnesota-based SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) says this new nationwide service is needed more now than ever before.

“We have a lot of people that are struggling,” Reidenberg says. “We know that when the economy takes a downturn when unemployment is a problem, when recessions and inflation happen we see suicide rates increase.”

988 went live on Saturday.

Minnesota News Network