States grapple with costs of increased calls to 988 crisis line

States across the country are grappling with how to budget for the long-term cost increases associated with the rollout of the national suicide and crisis hotline easy-to-remember 988 number (Source: “As 988 Crisis Line Sees More Use, States Debate How to Pay for It,” Pew Stateline, March 29).
 
Since the crisis line’s 988 number launched last July, its use has increased significantly. The lifeline had 404,194 calls, chats and texts in February alone, an increase of 161,678 contacts over February 2022. Calls answered increased by 48%, chats answered by 247% and texts by 1,599%.
 
An infusion of federal money to the national nonprofit that administers 988 and to local call centers that historically have received little or no federal aid has largely covered the expense of launching the new number and the recent increase in volume. But in the future, state and local governments still will be responsible for funding the local centers where calls are first routed, leaving states and municipalities grappling with how to cover the costs as demand increases.
 
When Congress passed a law in 2020 requiring the Federal Communications Commission to designate 988 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, it also allowed states to enact new telecommunications fees to fund 988 operations. Yet only five states have done so: California, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia and Washington.
 
Six other states have pending legislation that would impose a fee: Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont, according to the education and advocacy nonprofit National Alliance on Mental Illness. About 20 other states this year have either passed or are considering other 988-related legislation, ranging from providing money for the 988 program, mobile crisis services, creating a task force or launching a study of potential funding sources.