TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - Making decisions about calling 988 versus 911: understanding end-user views before the launch of 988
JO  - Psychiatric services
A1  - Pope, Leah G.
A1  - Patel, Ashnee
A1  - Watson, Amy C.
A1  - Compton, Michael T.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The 988 telephone number was implemented in July 2022 as an easily accessible way to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and has been envisioned as one step in building a more robust crisis care continuum in the United States. This study aimed to describe how various stakeholders anticipated using 988 compared with the most widely known crisis line: 911. <br><br>METHODS: Focus groups (N=15, with 76 total participants) were conducted in three counties in New York State between October and November 2021, before the launch of 988. Five stakeholder groups were included: mental health services consumers, family members of consumers, community members, mental health providers, and crisis call takers. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze all focus group transcripts. <br><br>RESULTS: Participants anticipated that key uses for 988 would be accessing support during a crisis, obtaining connections to local resources and services, and receiving alternatives to law enforcement response. However, participants continued to articulate uses for 911 during a mental health crisis, especially for situations involving "safety concerns." CONCLUSIONS: The broad expectations for 988 suggest that the line must be flexible and responsive to a range of needs and that communities should clearly define what is available through 988. More implementation research is needed to ensure a detailed understanding of those whom 988 is serving, how the line meets callers' needs, and the line's potential for connecting people to needed services.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1075-2730
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230016
ID  - ref1
ER  -