Two years ago on July 16, 1988, became the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. It’s shorter than the 11-digit 1-800 number that came before it and is accessible by call, text, or chat.
 If you dial or text 988, the call center you’re connected to depends on your number’s area code. If you live in Oklahoma, you’ll likely be connected to the state’s primary call center, managed by Solari Crisis and Human Services.
 Callers can expect an average answer speed of 11 seconds, and most calls are based on concerns for the mental health and safety of the callers themselves or someone they are connected to.
 Tony Stelter, the Chief of the Statewide Crisis for Oklahoma’s Department of Mental Health, stated that with the previous 1-800 number they received less than 2,000 per month. Now Solari reports more than 6,000 monthly calls on its public dashboard. Stelter said this growth is likely due to increased resource awareness, along with the current national mental and behavioral health crisis.
 If calls are not picked up at Solari, they could be answered by smaller teams at HeartLine (211) and Family & Children’s Services. Stelter said the goal of each call is “defined by the caller” and responders are trained to de-escalate the situation and to connect people to resources, often as supplied by each state.
 Brittany Hayes, Policy Director at Healthy Minds, said this is what makes 988 “more than just a hotline”. “I think a lot of people think 988 and they think it’s just a phone number to call, but really, Oklahoma plans to help individuals at whatever level they need”. “So that could be just a phone call, and that’s the system working at its best or it could be a mobile response, and that’s also the system working at its best”.
 As Oklahoma continues developing its 988 Lifeline, Stelter said he wants to see more collaboration. “It’s a great intervention, but it’s not a magic wand. It’s going to take the whole system still working together and continuing to grow and see how we can better collaborate and work with each other”.
 Stelter further stated Solari takes the mental health of its employees seriously too. The company has built-in wellness days and a defined Employee Assistance Program in place, and these efforts can combat the high rate of employee burnout present in emotionally draining jobs.
 As always, if you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988!