988 and the Crisis Continuum of Care

988 and the Crisis Continuum of Care

The 988 emergency line, a three-digit emergency calling code for mental health emergencies, was launched across the United States on July 16, 2022. Available by call, text, and online Web-based chat, 988 is available free of charge to individuals in crisis in all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Tribal areas. The 988 emergency line is envisioned as the gateway to a continuum of services designed to support individuals experiencing psychiatric crises; it includes an easy-to-remember phone line staffed by trained crisis counselors, mobile crisis response teams, and crisis stabilization facilities, with a collective goal of stabilizing psychiatric crises and linking individuals to ongoing care and resources. This continuum of care, also referred to as “Someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” provides a distinct alternative to the use of armed law enforcement or general medical settings ill equipped to stabilize psychiatric emergencies.

This month’s Editor’s Choice collection reflects on the historic first year of 988 and the diversity of perspectives on its implementation. In addition to a focus on new opportunities for crisis services, the articles are organized by phases of the crisis continuum of care. Readers interested in learning more about crisis services that predate the launch of 988 may also be interested in the previous collection on Community-Based Mental Health Crisis Services.

988 AND CRISIS SERVICES: A TURNING POINT IN THE RESPONSE TO PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES

Fulfilling the Goals of 988 Through Crisis Stabilization Care
Matthew E. Hirschtritt, M.D., M.P.H., Caren A. Howard, B.A., Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 8, pp 889–891

Cops, Clinicians, or Both? Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies
Margaret E. Balfour, M.D., Ph.D., Arlene Hahn Stephenson, M.A.S., Ph.D., Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, Ph.D., Jason Winsky, B.A., Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S.
2022, Volume 73, Issue 6, pp 658–669

New Opportunities to Improve Mental Health Crisis Systems
Michael F. Hogan, Ph.D., and Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S.
2021, Volume 72, Issue 2, pp 169–173

CRISIS LINES AND CALL CENTERS: “SOMEONE TO CALL”

Crisis Lines: Current Status and Recommendations for Research and Policy
Sasha Zabelski, M.S., Andréa R. Kaniuka, M.A., Ryan A. Robertson, M.A., Robert J. Cramer, Ph.D.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 5, pp 505–512

Mental Health Emergency Hotlines in the United States: A Scoping Review (2012–2021)
Samantha Matthews, M.P.A., Jonathan H. Cantor, Ph.D., Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Ph.D., Nicole K. Eberhart, Ph.D., Joshua Breslau, Ph.D., Sc.D., Armenda Bialas, B.S., Ryan K. McBain, Ph.D., M.P.H.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 5, pp 513–522

“If This Is an Emergency, Hang up and Dial 911” in the Era of 988
Leah G. Pope, Ph.D., and Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H.
2022, Volume 73, Issue 10, pp 1179–1181

MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE: “SOMEONE TO COME”

How to Reach a Mobile Crisis Team: Results From a National Survey
Rachel Odes, Ph.D., R.N., Deepa Manjanatha, M.P.H., Preston Looper, M.S., L.P.C.-S., Megan McDaniel, B.A., Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S.
PS in Advance (March 20, 2023)

Crisis Response Model Preferences of Mental Health Care Clients With Prior Misdemeanor Arrests and of Their Family and Friends
Leah G. Pope, Ph.D., Ashnee Patel, B.S., En Fu, Ph.D., Michael Zingman, M.D., M.P.H., Amanda Warnock, M.P.H., Samantha Ellis, B.A., Oluwaytoyin Ashekun, M.P.H., Amy Watson, Ph.D., Jennifer Wood, Ph.D., Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H.
PS in Advance (April 20, 2023)

Field Visit Contact Rate by Mobile Crisis Teams as a Crisis System Performance Metric
Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S., Andrea N. Ponce, B.A., Marilyn Thomas, Ph.D., Stephanie Felder, M.S., Stephen Wu, M.D., Rachel Loewy, Ph.D., Christina Mangurian, M.D., M.A.S.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 7, pp 756–759

Mobile Crisis Metrics: Moving Toward a Functional Crisis Continuum of Care
Eric Rafla-Yuan, M.D.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 7, pp 673

Revisiting Research Safety Protocols: The Urgency for Alternatives to Law Enforcement in Crisis Intervention
Esther Anene, M.S., Meghana Nallajerla, B.A., Eraka P. J. Bath, M.D., Enrico G. Castillo, M.D., M.S.H.P.M.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 3, pp 325–328

CRISIS STABILIZATION: “SOMEWHERE TO GO”

Adoption of Best Practices in Behavioral Health Crisis Care by Mental Health Treatment Facilities
Ashlyn Burns, M.P.H., Nir Menachemi, Ph.D., M.P.H., Valerie A. Yeager, Dr.P.H., M.Phil., Joshua R. Vest, Ph.D., M.P.H., Olena Mazurenko, M.D., Ph.D.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 9, pp 929–935

Economic Evaluation of a Crisis Residential Program
Todd A. Olmstead, Ph.D., Paul J. Rathouz, Ph.D., Kathleen A. Casey, Ph.D., Tracy A. Abzug, L.C.S.W., Stephen M. Strakowski, M.D.
2022, Volume 73, Issue 3, pp 346–348

Trends and Geographic Availability of Emergency Psychiatric Walk-In and Crisis Services in the United States
Luther G. Kalb, Ph.D., Calliope Holingue, Ph.D., Emma K. Stapp, Ph.D., Kathryn Van Eck, Ph.D., Johannes Thrul, Ph.D.
2022, Volume 73, Issue 1, pp 26–31

The Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) Model: A Program to Divert Youths in Mental Health Crisis From the Emergency Department
Amanda Ribbers, M.S., David Sheridan, M.D., M.C.R, Ajit Jetmalani, M.D., Julie Magers, B.A., C.F.S.S., Amber Laurie Lin, M.S., Rebecca Marshall, M.D., M.P.H.
2020, Volume 71, Issue 11, pp 1203–1206