Health Care

988 suicide hotline funding boosted ahead of 1-year anniversary

About half of states have passed appropriations to support 988 centers and improve the service that callers receive.
In this May 16, 2019 photo, state Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D), the only Native American in the Oregon Legislature, speaks in Salem, Ore. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)

A surge in calls routed to local crisis response centers is pushing states to transform their crisis care policies, as the one-year anniversary of the national 988 suicide prevention hotline approaches.

The latest to act are Oregon and Delaware, where Govs. Tina Kotek (D) and John Carney (D) are expected to sign bills in the coming days that would assess monthly telecom surcharges of 40 and 60 cents, respectively, that will go to state trust funds dedicated to improving and expanding the service. 

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