Governor Mike DeWine calls the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline a great success on its second anniversary.

DeWine says the 19 call centers in Ohio have made contact with around 340,000 people since it started on July 16th, 2022. That is an average of 14,000 phone calls, texts, or chats with people per month, and the average speed to answer a call is 25 seconds, which is better than the national average of 36 seconds. 

Three numbers are helping Ohioans struggling with mental and substance abuse issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and state officials are talking about the success of the 9-8-8 program. The hotline helps people find local resources if they have thoughts of suicide, if they are having a mental health or substance abuse crisis, or if they are in emotional distress. 

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is encouraging increased public awareness and usage of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Beginning in May, OhioMHAS is launching a public awareness campaign that includes radio, television, social media, and out-of-home messages in communities throughout Ohio, with a goal of making more people familiar with the potentially lifesaving resource.