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As a result of how the pandemic impacted mental health, more people are aware of and accepting of their own mental health struggles. Yet despite continued mental health awareness, mental health conditions are stigmatized which hinders people’s attempts to seek help.
Suicide is a serious public health issue and can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, or sexuality.
Considering the impact of suicide on families, communities, and the U.S. at large, all efforts to reduce stigma and prevent suicide should be recognized. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was a major driving force behind the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline rollout in 2022. For all her efforts in spreading mental health awareness and implementing practical solutions to the mental health crisis, Verywell Mind is honored to name Senator Tammy Baldwin as one of its Verywell Mind 25 recipients of 2023.
Senator Baldwin is one of our top 25 thought leaders, experts, and advocates making a difference in mental healthSee 2023 Honorees
Senator Baldwin is one of our top 25 thought leaders, experts, and advocates making a difference in mental health
See 2023 Honorees
Senator Tammy Baldwin—A Mental Health Advocate
Senator Tammy Baldwin has been a champion of mental health and suicide prevention. In 2019, sheintroduced theNational Suicide Hotline Designation Act.
Senator Tammy BaldwinWe need to do everything we can to prevent suicide and that means improving the tools we have to help people who are suffering from depression or other mental health concerns.
Senator Tammy Baldwin
We need to do everything we can to prevent suicide and that means improving the tools we have to help people who are suffering from depression or other mental health concerns.
The National Suicide Hotline Designation ActThe bipartisan legislation passed Congress and became law in July 2020. This act aimed to designate the three-digit number 988 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.The goal was to ensure that the 988 would become as reliable and as well-known as 911.
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act
The bipartisan legislation passed Congress and became law in July 2020. This act aimed to designate the three-digit number 988 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.The goal was to ensure that the 988 would become as reliable and as well-known as 911.
The bipartisan legislation passed Congress and became law in July 2020. This act aimed to designate the three-digit number 988 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
The goal was to ensure that the 988 would become as reliable and as well-known as 911.
How the 988 Hotline Provides Help to Those in Crisis
The Lifeline provides around-the-clock access to crisis call centers that provide counselors to talk to via phone, texting, or chatting.
The counselors can also give recommendations for crisis stabilization programs where people can go for in-person help.
Crisis SupportIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.988
Crisis Support
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
988
Shifting From Ten Digits to Three
Before 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line were 10 digits. By giving people a three-digit number rather than a 10-digit number to remember, it gives those in need a much easier way to get help when they need it.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the 988 number is to mental health as what 911 is to other emergencies.
Senator Baldwin’s Goals for the 988 Rollout
For Senator Baldwin, the APA perfectly sums up the code’s intention.
“In America, we lose about 45,000 people every year to suicide, including more than 6,100 veterans, making it one of the leading causes of death in this country,” Senator Baldwin said in a press release.“We need to do everything we can to prevent suicide and that means improving the tools we have to help people who are suffering from depression or other mental health concerns.”
Supporting Marginalized Communities
The 988 number also aims to include support for those in marginalized communities. For instance, inSeptember 2022, it teamed up withThe Trevor Project,an organization that focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth, as part of a pilot program that connects LGBTQIA+ children and teens to counselors who are trained in issues their communities face.
Help for Native and Indigenous CommunitiesIn November 2022, Washington State launched theNative and Strong Lifeline, the first crisis line forAmerican Indians and Alaska Nativesin the state.This Lifeline is part of the national 988 networks so when someone calls 988 from a Washington state area code, they will hear automated options to choose from including option #4, which connects them toNative crisis counselors.
Help for Native and Indigenous Communities
In November 2022, Washington State launched theNative and Strong Lifeline, the first crisis line forAmerican Indians and Alaska Nativesin the state.This Lifeline is part of the national 988 networks so when someone calls 988 from a Washington state area code, they will hear automated options to choose from including option #4, which connects them toNative crisis counselors.
In November 2022, Washington State launched theNative and Strong Lifeline, the first crisis line forAmerican Indians and Alaska Nativesin the state.
This Lifeline is part of the national 988 networks so when someone calls 988 from a Washington state area code, they will hear automated options to choose from including option #4, which connects them toNative crisis counselors.
How Native Americans Are Healing Despite Ongoing Settler Colonialist Trauma
988 Makes a Mark
During the first five months that 988 was in place, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline received over 1.7 million calls, texts, and chats, which is almost half a million more than what was received during the same time period the year prior via the 10-digit number.
“After working to get my bipartisan legislation signed into law and ensure funding for the implementation, I am so proud to see this quick and easy three-digit phone number launch so Americans in crisis can get the timely help and support they need. This will save lives,” Senator Baldwin stated in a press release.
Senator Baldwin Received Millions in Funding for the 988 Rollout
What to Know About 988’s FundingFunding that Senator Baldwin secured for 988 includes:$150 millionto support the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline$101 millionfor the transition to the 988 hotline and$5 millionfor the new Behavioral Health Crisis and 988 Coordinating Office at the Department of Health and Human Services Senator (as part of the 2022 fiscal year appropriations bill)More than $280 millionfrom the Biden administration to fund both the Lifeline and 24/7 staff increases for states
What to Know About 988’s Funding
Funding that Senator Baldwin secured for 988 includes:$150 millionto support the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline$101 millionfor the transition to the 988 hotline and$5 millionfor the new Behavioral Health Crisis and 988 Coordinating Office at the Department of Health and Human Services Senator (as part of the 2022 fiscal year appropriations bill)More than $280 millionfrom the Biden administration to fund both the Lifeline and 24/7 staff increases for states
Funding that Senator Baldwin secured for 988 includes:
Although Congress signed legislation into law to establish 988, it’s up to each state to implement, develop, and maintain what is needed to provide help to people in crisis.
Senator Baldwin’s Fight Against the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic
Senator Baldwin’s Family Was Affected By Substance Use
In fact, the 2023 fiscal year appropriations bill that President Biden signed into law included provisions from Baldwin’s bills, which would:
“[This] legislation delivers the needed resources to support youth who are experiencing mental health issues, strengthen our widely used three-digit suicide lifeline, and help Wisconsinites get the care they need,” Senator Baldwin said in a press release.
“Opioids and fentanyl continue to touch every community across Wisconsin and we must do more to help our local communities combat it. I voted for this legislation because it delivers support from Washington to Wisconsin to combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic and increase access to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts," said Senator Baldwin.
Senator Baldwin Touches Other Areas of Mental Health
If that isn’t enough, Senator Baldwin also championed securing funding for other areas of mental health, including:
10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about suicide.American Psychological Association.Implementing 9-8-8.Tammy Baldwin.House of Representatives Passes Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan Reform to Create Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline. 2020.The Trevor Project.The Trevor Project Celebrates New Appropriations for 988 Lifeline’s Specialized Crisis Services for LGBTQ Youth. 2022.Washington State Department of Health.Nation’s first Native and Strong Lifeline Launches as Part of 988. 2022.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.988 Lifeline Performance Metrics. 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Senator Baldwin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline Launches Nationwide. 2022.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.
10 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about suicide.American Psychological Association.Implementing 9-8-8.Tammy Baldwin.House of Representatives Passes Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan Reform to Create Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline. 2020.The Trevor Project.The Trevor Project Celebrates New Appropriations for 988 Lifeline’s Specialized Crisis Services for LGBTQ Youth. 2022.Washington State Department of Health.Nation’s first Native and Strong Lifeline Launches as Part of 988. 2022.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.988 Lifeline Performance Metrics. 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Senator Baldwin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline Launches Nationwide. 2022.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about suicide.American Psychological Association.Implementing 9-8-8.Tammy Baldwin.House of Representatives Passes Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan Reform to Create Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline. 2020.The Trevor Project.The Trevor Project Celebrates New Appropriations for 988 Lifeline’s Specialized Crisis Services for LGBTQ Youth. 2022.Washington State Department of Health.Nation’s first Native and Strong Lifeline Launches as Part of 988. 2022.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.988 Lifeline Performance Metrics. 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Senator Baldwin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline Launches Nationwide. 2022.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic. January 23, 2023.Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about suicide.
American Psychological Association.Implementing 9-8-8.
Tammy Baldwin.House of Representatives Passes Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan Reform to Create Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline. 2020.
The Trevor Project.The Trevor Project Celebrates New Appropriations for 988 Lifeline’s Specialized Crisis Services for LGBTQ Youth. 2022.
Washington State Department of Health.Nation’s first Native and Strong Lifeline Launches as Part of 988. 2022.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.988 Lifeline Performance Metrics. 2023.
Tammy Baldwin.Senator Baldwin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline Launches Nationwide. 2022.
Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and OpioidEpidemic. January 23, 2023.
Tammy Baldwin.Baldwin Votes to Boost Mental Health Support and Take on the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic. January 23, 2023.
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