When people think about calling 911 in an emergency, they’re usually thinking about getting help – and fast.
That means call centers need people to answer calls and dispatch police, fire or ambulance.
But for people in active mental health crises and those calling for help, it’s tough to remember Georgia’s current 10-digit number: 800-715-4225.
Next year, Georgia will join the nation in using a single, three-digit hotline: 988 is meant to be the “911” of behavioral health, said Judy Fitzgerald, the commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Establishing 988 for suicide prevention and mental health crisis services will make it easier for Georgians in crisis to access the help they need and decrease the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.