Missouri 988 mental health crisis hotline receives 136% more callers since 2022

MISSOURI – Two years after a federally mandated mental health crisis number launched, 988, the number has experienced a huge influx of calls since becoming nationally available.

According to nonprofit KFF , the number of calls to 988 from Missouri increased 136% between May 2022 and May 2024.

When the three-digit number became available to all landline and cell phone users at no charge, it connected callers to over 200 state-funded crisis call centers during a mental health crisis.

In Missouri, a significant improvement in answer rate from 988 was seen; as of 2024, 94% of callers were connected with a local crisis center, ranking the state among the top 16.

The state’s answer rate rises above the national average, as across the country 89% of callers receive an answer with an average wait time of 1 minute and 31 seconds.

Missouri’s increased calls could be attributed to a growing awareness of the number, despite KFF polling indicating that public awareness of 988 is typically low, with only 18% of adults reporting they have heard much about it.

Alongside Missouri, the states that have seen the greatest increase of callers are Oklahoma with an 185% increase and South Dakota with a 171% increase.

Arkansas had also seen a significant surge with a 162% influx, and Illinois has also seen an increase of callers by 96%.

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