988 crisis line received 5M texts, calls and chats in 1st year

National crisis line 988 has answered five million calls, chats and texts in its first year of operation since transitioning from its 10-digit number, NPR reported July 15.

Here are eight more things to know about 988 in the year since its launch:

1. Calls, chats and texts were up 35 percent from the 10-digit line.
2. Average wait times across the line dropped from 2 minutes, 39 seconds to 41 seconds.
3. Only 18 percent of adults are aware of 988, according to a survey cited by NPR.
4. The 988 line responded to 665,000 texts in the last year, an increase of 1,135 percent from the previous year with the old line.
5. At least 29 states have local call centers that respond to texts.
6. The Biden administration has committed almost $40 million to support 988 services focused on the LGBTQ community, including a special line with the Trevor Project.
7. Six percent of 988 calls and 15 percent of texts have gone through the special line, which launched in September.
8. Eight states have funded 988 services through dedicated cellphone fees.