NAMI report highlights states' progress in
addressing crisis response, but new NAMI/Ipsos polling finds
Americans continue to have low familiarity of 988 while strongly
supporting efforts to reimagine nation's mental health crisis
system
ARLINGTON, Va., July 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of the second
anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's nationwide
availability, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) today
released two new resources that highlight crucial steps
policymakers can take to help people experiencing a mental health
crisis. More than 10 million contacts have already been made to the
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline since July
2022, however, today's new polling, conducted with Ipsos,
and a new state legislative issue brief show the pressing need to
raise awareness of 988 while strengthening the crisis response
system to meet the growing demand.
"After two years of 988, millions of people have already
received help for a mental health crisis or other emotional
distress. As we look to year three, NAMI's new poll shows that
we're only scratching the surface on getting the word out about
this life-saving resource," said NAMI Chief Executive Officer
Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. "With strong
trust in 988, strong support for policies and funding for 988 and
crisis services as well as innovative examples of how states are
addressing this challenge, it's time for policymakers at every
level to do more to reimagine and strengthen our response to mental
health crises and help people get the care they need."
Trust in the system
NAMI and Ipsos started measuring awareness of 988 in Fall 2021,
before 988 became available nationwide. While awareness has
increased significantly since then, the latest poll –
conducted in June – finds awareness and familiarity with 988
have remained steady since October
2023. Two-thirds of Americans have at least heard of 988,
but only 23% are familiar with what 988 is and the response someone
would receive when reaching out for help.
Nearly 9 in 10 people who are familiar with 988 trust they would
receive the help they needed if they contacted 988, and this group
is 10 percentage points more comfortable and more likely than
adults at large to reach out to a 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
counselor for support during a mental health crisis or emergency.
Overall, 82% of Americans trust they'd receive the help they need
from 988 upon reaching out. Of those who have contacted 988
already, about two-thirds (68%) say they got the help they
needed – a significant (13 percentage points) improvement from
a year ago.
There is a knowledge gap about what 988 is and who the 988
Lifeline can help. Thirty-eight percent of respondents don't know
what to do if someone they love is in a mental health crisis, while
51% aren't sure when a situation is serious enough to contact
988.
Room to grow
This data highlights the importance of further public awareness
and education about what 988 is and how it can help people in
crisis, which makes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration's (SAMHSA) new five-month 988 awareness campaign
even more critical.
"SAMHSA's campaign couldn't come at a better time to reach more
people, especially disproportionately impacted communities," said
Gillison.
In addition to 988 awareness, respondents agree that
policymakers must act now to ensure that life-saving resources and
services are available when someone reaches out for help. More than
8 in 10 adults support federal funding (83%) or state funding (83%)
for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call center operations and
crisis response services, as well as requiring all health insurers
to cover mental health crisis services (88%). In fact, nearly half
of respondents say that 988 should be a high or the highest federal
funding priority for Congress (49%). This funding is needed to
support robust capacity – highlighted by the fact that about half
(51%) said that being able to speak to a crisis counselor
immediately is the most important factor in reaching out to
988.
"People want to know that if they contact 988, they won't be put
on hold or wait for help," said Hannah
Wesolowski, NAMI's Chief Advocacy Officer. "Continued
investments in 988 are critical to meet the demand – and
answer calls quickly – as awareness grows."
States take a leading role
In addition to federal leadership on awareness and funding, much
of the activity around reimagining the ways communities respond to
people in a mental health crisis is happening at the state level.
Today, NAMI also released its latest issue brief, Trends in State
Policy: 988 and Reimagining Crisis Response, exploring state
legislative successes in 2023 that have improved the mental health
crisis system. Key legislation highlighted in the brief includes
states passing sustainable funding for 988, yearly appropriations,
insurance coverage of crisis care, and how states are planning for
the future. NAMI continues to track state legislation nationwide
that would improve 988 and crisis response in real time. To see
what is moving in different states, visit
reimaginecrisis.org/map.
The brief also focuses on recommendations for policymakers to
continue improving crisis response services. Three in four (75%)
Americans surveyed in the June poll are not content with the state
of mental health care in this country.
"This data – and the momentum around 988 and reimagining crisis
response – shows that it is urgent for all policymakers to leverage
best practices passed by other states and take action to improve
mental health crisis services and the broader mental health
system," said Wesolowski. "We cannot slow down our efforts to
#ReimagineCrisis until every person in crisis has someone to talk
to, someone to respond, and a safe place for help."
Find additional data from the new poll at
nami.org/summer2024poll, as well as the polling topline and
research slide deck. Read the full NAMI issue brief, Trends in
State Policy: 988 and Reimagining Crisis Response.
This NAMI/Ipsos poll was conducted June 7 – 9, 2024,
by Ipsos using the probability-based
KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally
representative probability sample of 2,048 general population
adults age 18 or older. The survey has a margin of error of
± 2.2 percentage points. Learn more about the poll
methodology here.
The National Alliance on Mental
Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots
mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of
individuals and families affected by mental illness
Join the conversation: NAMI.org
| Facebook.com/nami |
Instagram.com/namicommunicate |
Twitter.com/namicommunicate |
TikTok.com/@nami |
LinkedIn.com/company/nami |
YouTube.com/NAMIvideo
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nami-polling-and-state-legislative-brief-highlight-opportunities-to-improve-federal-and-state-mental-health-crisis-response-after-two-years-of-988-lifeline-302196217.html
SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness