Why does 988 matter?

General Rollout Overview
Written By Tamara Horton

The massive rollout of 988 can eventually become a critical tool to address our state’s needs. In Georgia from 2019-2020, there was a slight decline in suicides in urban areas, but an 8.3% rise in rural suicides. From April 2020 to April 2021, Georgia has seen a 36% increase in overdose deaths.

Current projections suggest that the use of 988 will increase crisis center call volumes by as much as 100% by the end of the first year. Georgia will need to make sizeable investments over time to ensure there is always someone to call, someone to respond and somewhere to go for all Georgians. Georgia will continue to explore opportunities with state and federal partners to meet these growing demands.

For more information on 988 you can also check out the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FAQs: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs

Tamara Horton
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