Nearly two million of those interactions were text messages, and 1.2 million were calls answered by the Veterans Crisis Line. In May, the most recent month for which data is available, 88% of calls, 83% of chats and 97% of texts were answered. Of those that used the hotline, roughly 70% said they received adequate help.
However, the program is not yet reaching its full potential, experts told the Times. According to a recent poll, only a quarter of Americans know about the hotline and 3% of Americans said they or a loved one used 988.
Funding for the hotline is also dependent on state and federal monies, with some states investing more than others in the call centers. The workforce has also not yet met the demand for calls. Call center counselors are often paid “modest salaries” for long schedules, and there is a long list of openings for positions at the centers.
The Biden administration has funneled almost $1.5 billion into 988 and more than $200 million in grant money is expected to be given to states in 2024 fiscal year to continue to support the work, federal officials said.
The three-digit number was introduced in 2022 as a way to simplify emergency calls. Previously, the hotline used a 10-digit number. There are more than 200 call centers around the country, most of which operate 24/7.
