When Minnesotans experience emotional stress, mental health concerns or a crisis, a growing number are calling, texting or chatting with a trained specialist at 988Lifeline.
On a typical weekday in July of this year, the Twin Cities 988 Lifeline center received upwards of 25,000 texts from people seeking help.
“We’re just people listening with empathy,” said Jamal Thompson, manager of the center. “There’s less stigma associated with mental health than there used to be, and the number of people reaching out to 988 is growing exponentially.”
Today Thompson oversees 35 trained specialists who work directly for Mental Health of Minnesota, a nonprofit contracted by Vibrant Emotional Health. The local team fields incoming calls, texts and chats to the 988Lifeline, providing free, 24/7 confidential emotional support and resources to people in distress. who text 988 and chat 988Lifeline.org .
No insurance is required to call, text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org and the service offers complete anonymity.
Thompson gives some of the credit for the uptick in the number of contacts to the recent rollout of informational targeted ads to the Black and the LGBTQ+ communities. Many of the 988Lifeline team members come from marginalized populations themselves. Thompson said he recognizes the value of shared experiences when callers who reach out for help hear directly from someone who has been through similar experiences.
“A lot of our counselors can say ‘I’ve been there, these are some of the things that helped me.’ That’s very helpful, because the people calling in don’t feel that in a social services office – 988 is different,” said Thompson.
Early statistics for the 988 Minnesota Lifeline show that the biggest thing chatters and texters like is simply talking to someone. Many of the people counseled by Thompson’s team express feelings of loneliness. It’s a persistent problem; the US Surgeon General recently sounded the alarm and identified loneliness and feelings of isolation as a major public health epidemic.
Thompson wants those who connect with 988 to know they don’t have to be alone.
“People are so much stronger than they often think they are,” said Thompson.“
Talking to a relative about your problems, they know your history and sometimes may be a little biased in their response. They might say, ‘you’re always angry about everything,’ whereas a 988 specialist doesn’t know you, so they can offer an unbiased perspective, show empathy and, first and foremost, listen.”
People seeking help can visit 988lifeline.org online and use a button to facilitate chatting. They get a preliminary questionnaire asking a few simple questions, including their level of distress from a scale of 1 to 5, whether their issue is LGBTQ related, whether they are Spanish speaking or a veteran. From there, they are connected to a trained crisis response specialist.
The 988 Minnesota Lifeline has updated its geo-routing system. It now identifies if someone is local, even if they use an out-of-state number. Geo-routing is important for people who need critical help. Thompson points out that it’s different than geo-locating, which would compromise anonymity.
“We want to continue to help people with coping mechanisms, and address how to avoid reaching unhealthy levels of distress,” said Thompson. “We’re here for them to talk to, let them know that somebody does care, that their problems are real, and that they can overcome them with support, and have brighter days.”
PROGRAMMING NOTE: As part of our continuing efforts to spread mental health awareness by advocating and elevating impactful stories, WCCO Radio/Audacy's annual I’m Listening broadcast special is set to air on Saturday, September 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on WCCO Radio and the Audacy app .
If you or someone you are worried about need immediate emotional or mental health support, call or text 988, or visit the 988 Minnesota Lifeline chat to connect online with a trained counselor.
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