One year ago, federal officials, including U.S. Department of Health and Human Secretary Xavier Becerra, joined Mayor Kenny, DBHIDS Commissioner Jill Bowen, and others to announce the nationwide launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a mental health service line modeled on the national 911 emergency hotline.
At a press conference on July 14, 2023, in the Mayor’s Reception Room in Philadelphia City Hall, Mary Horstmann, Managing Director for Health and Human Services, Office of the Managing Director, Kendra Brooks, City Council Member Jill Bowen, Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), Jean Bennett, Ph.D., Regional Director (Region 3), SAMSHA, John White, President/CEO, The Consortium (provider), and Marie Kearns, Ph.D., Behavioral Health Director, Path, Inc. (provider) were in attendance to commemorate the first anniversary of this lifesaving service and to report on data and other 988-related initiatives that have been placed since last year.
“The Philadelphia model of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line calls for a shift and a systemic approach to easing trauma and doing everything we can not add trauma for a person whois already in distress. Our goal is to always work toward easing trauma, achieving equity, and engaging the community,” said Jill Bowen, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services DBHISD.
Suicide is a major public health issue in the United States. The global pandemic laid bare the necessity for mental health awareness and treatment of those afflicted with issues such as Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Psychosis, Personality disorder, Post Traumatic Stress disorder, Eating disorder, Substance use disorder, and other disorders. Matters were exacerbated by the stressors that the pandemic imposed. Philadelphia has been on the frontline of creating a solution with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is receiving over 200 calls daily.
One year later, calls to the crisis line have increased monthly, trained mental health crisis counselors have been added to the Philadelphia Crisis Line, some counselors are now embedded in the 911 radio room, and the community mobile crisis response teams have been expanded in an effort to meet the behavioral health crisis needs of Philadelphians. The Philadelphia Crisis Line (PCL) is a free, 24/7 mental health hotline that offers crisis and emotional health intervention. PLC dispatches mobile teams to conduct in-home or community crisis response and stabilization for adults and youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Jill Bowen said, “None of this work would be possible without the support of Philadelphia City Council, and I thank them for their continued support.”
Councilmember Cindy Bass (District 8) said, “I just want to thank everyone for the hard work you do. We need to put additional resources to make improvements happen. Thank you to all those with boots on the ground doing this work every day. God bless you for all the work that you do.” From City Council’s perspective, we need to do more.”
“988 is a lifesaving resource, and I hope that every family has the number on their fridge in case of a mental health crisis. Families all over the city, over 200 a day, are reaching out for mental health support,” said Councilmember at Large Kendra Brooks.
For information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line in Philadelphia, contact www.988philly.org
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