The third anniversary of 988 is a moment to reflect on its impact and why California’s investments in crisis care through AB 988 matter now more than ever.
Today marks three years since the nationwide launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This anniversary is a moment to reflect on our progress – and the setbacks that could undermine it.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline marked a turning point in how the United States responds to mental health crises. Instead of relying on 911, 988 offers a simpler, safer path: connecting people in crisis to trained mental health professionals who can help.
Since its launch, 988 has become a vital lifeline for people experiencing mental health crises, connecting millions of Americans and over 800,000 Californians to help when it’s needed most.
How California is turning calls into care through AB 988
While the national launch of 988 created a critical starting point, California recognized that a phone call alone isn’t enough. To truly transform crisis care, we need local infrastructure that ensures there is someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go when people need help.
California took that step by passing AB 988 in 2022. The law, sponsored by the Steinberg Institute, is designed to strengthen the state’s crisis care system by sustainably funding local call centers and mobile crisis response teams. AB 988 turns the promise of 988 into reality, ensuring Californians can access help when and where they need it, without relying on emergency rooms or law enforcement.
Federal rollbacks threaten progress
This anniversary comes as federal cuts threaten progress. Last month, the federal administration announced it will remove the LGBTQ+ youth option from the national 988 hotline — a resource that has supported over 1.3 million calls since its inception.
This means when someone from the LGBTQ community calls 988, they will receive help from the 988 counselor on the line, instead of being transferred to a counselor dedicated to serving LGBTQ callers.
The federal government is also dissolving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the nation’s primary mental health agency, as part of a broader restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency has already lost one-third of its workforce and faces $1 billion in budget cuts.
SAMHSA plays a critical role in funding key mental health services, including the 988 crisis line. To date, the agency has provided over $519 million to support 988 and behavioral crisis response services, helping to fund local call centers and crisis infrastructure across the country.
These cuts reflect a broader shift in federal priorities and threaten not only the success of 988 but also the broader effort to build a comprehensive continuum of care, especially in rural and under-resourced communities.
These moves are a setback, but all 988 counselors in California receive training on assisting callers from various backgrounds. California also announced a partnership with The Trevor Project that will provide the state’s 988 crisis counselors additional competency training from experts around LGBTQ+ youth and the mental health challenges they face. If you or someone you care about is in the LGBTQ community and needs crisis assistance, it is important to know that 988 is still a life-saving resource.
The road ahead for California’s crisis response systems
The third anniversary of AB 988 reminds us that progress in mental health crisis care requires constant advocacy and protection. While we have made significant strides, the work is far from over.
The state is working to implement the AB 988 5-Year Implementation Plan, released last December, to ensure that 988 lives up to its promise of a system that offers hope, help, and a path forward during moments of crisis. By continuing to invest in California’s crisis care system through AB 988 and advocating for services that meet people where they are, when they need it most.