Michigan is working to implement a sustainable crisis response system that provides access for everyone. Service providers discussed system progress at the 2024 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference last month. Wendy Martinez Farmer, regional vice president of Account Management and Crisis Services at Carelon Behavioral Health, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health … Read more
Behavioral health experts and community leaders met at the 2024 Texas State of Reform Health Policy Conference last month to discuss the state’s work to bolster its crisis response system. After the Federal Trade Commission adopted rules mandating use of the 988 suicide crisis line, which launched in July 2022, states had to find ways … Read more
A panel of experts led a discussion on the gaps, challenges, and pathways forward for Utah’s mental healthcare system during the 2023 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference on April 26th. Rep. Steve Eliason (R- Sandy) along with members of the Utah steering committee developing the state’s Behavioral Health System Assessment and … Read more
Hawaii implemented its 988 crisis response line in July to provide more efficient access to those in need of assistance during mental health or suicide crises. Individuals with an 808 area code can now call 988 to connect to the Hawaii Department of Health’s (DOH) Hawaii CARES crisis line to access crisis support services. The … Read more
A new Washington lifeline that explicitly serves American Indian and Alaska Native callers is now available to help those in crisis. The Native and Strong Lifeline, a new feature connected to the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, went live on Nov. 10th. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) hosted a press … Read more
A new Washington crisis lifeline that will explicitly serve American Indian and Alaska Native callers is expected to launch this month. Colleen Thompson, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for the Division of Prevention and Community Health at the Washington State Department of Health, discussed the new line during an Oct. 26th Joint … Read more
Thank you to everyone who came to last week’s 2022 Alaska State of Reform Health Policy Conference! It was an honor for our team to be back in Anchorage in-person and we are thrilled to have had such a dynamic, well-attended event. Our Digital Media Specialist, Alex Nelson, made a “What You Missed” video to … Read more
Mental health professionals are working to implement a plethora of new crisis response services in Alaska, and a few experts discussed current initiatives at the 2022 Alaska State of Reform Health Policy Conference. Eric Boyer, Senior Program Officer at Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA), has been guiding the implementation of the state’s … Read more
The Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah (HMHI) reported a 36% increase in daily average calls to its Utah Crisis Line in the first week after 988 launched (July 16-July 23). Utah joined the rest of the country on July 16th in operationalizing the 988 suicide and crisis prevention lifeline, … Read more
Colorado joined the rest of the United States on July 16th in operationalizing the 988 suicide and crisis prevention lifeline, a new, three-digit number for call (multiple languages), text, or chat (English only) that connects people in crisis to local extensions of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In the first week of … Read more