Description:

In honor of the three-year anniversary of the 988 Crisis & Suicide Lifeline, Solving What’s Missing in Healthcare host Vatsala Kapur, SVP of External Affairs at Bamboo Health, speaks with Eileen Davis, VP of Mass211, and Michael Redding, Executive Director of the International Council for Helplines.

Since its launch on July 18, 2022, 988 has responded to over 9.8 million calls, 2.5 million texts, and 2.2 million chats—saving an estimated 150,000 lives every month. This episode explores how 988 has evolved into a vital part of the national behavioral health safety net, and what comes next for this public health service.

Together, they explore the impact and evolution of 988, what has gone well in the past three years, where it is headed and how it is helping save lives.

Eileen and Michael share strategies for best practices including what states and organizations are getting it right and what still needs to happen, including breaking down stigmas and increasing access to care for those in a behavioral health crisis. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• How the evolution of 988 has made an impact on improving behavioral health outcomes for those in a crisis 
• What has gone well since the launch of the Lifeline
• How to make 988 more successful and help break down stigmas for behavioral health 

Featured Guests: 

• Vatsala Kapur, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Bamboo Health 

• Eileen Davis, Vice President of Mass211

• Michael Reading, Executive Director of the International Council for Helplines

Key Moments:

• [0:00] Welcome to Solving What's Missing in Healthcare
• [2:05] About Mass211
• [4:18] About the International Council for Helplines
• [6:30] The three year anniversary of 988
• [9:40] SAMHSA's best practices
• [14:38] Who's getting it right
• [17:11] The growth of mobile crisis units
• [19:40] The evolution of the 988 Crisis Suicide & Lifeline 

Listen On: On your favorite streaming platform. 

Approved Quotes:

"What's gone well is that with 988 becoming a federally mandated program across the states and U.S. territories, is more resources have become available." — Michael Reading, Executive Director of the International Council for Helplines

"The emphasis on the continuum of care really says to me communities are working together. Early intervention and working together is what will make this all come alive and impactful."       — Michael Reading, Executive Director of the International Council for Helplines

“The successful states are going to be the most successful are the ones that do outreach and partnter with each other.  States that support collaboration are going to be the ones that pull ahead." — Eileen Davis, Vice President of Mass211

"It is savings lives and it's important that people understand early intervention is important. Just making sure that people and communities know that you have compassion all around you, there is kindness and goodness and genuineness out there and its's three digits away."             — Eileen Davis, Vice President of Mass211