Dawn Allen, Interim CEO and Chief of Staff
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time when we come together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the lives of our family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. It is also the perfect moment to reflect on one of the most important tools we have in this fight: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Since its launch in July 2022, 988 has transformed access to urgent behavioral health care. In Rhode Island alone, the 988 and BH Link hotlines have answered more than 65,000 calls, with a 98 percent in-state answer rate, one of the highest in the nation and an average response time of just two seconds. Behind every one of those calls is a story of pain, fear, and uncertainty, but also a story of hope. Each call answered represents a person who was not left alone in their darkest moment.
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 14 and 20 to 34. Nationally, nearly 50,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2022, the highest number ever recorded. At the same time, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that more than 12 million American adults seriously considered suicide that year. These statistics are sobering, but they also affirm the urgency of sustaining what we know works.
Despite being a federal mandate, 988 is an unfunded one here in Rhode Island. Without a reliable funding stream, we risk undermining a system that has already proven it can save lives. Legislation that would have secured long-term funding for 988 stalled last session, leaving this essential service vulnerable. We’re hopeful that in the coming 2026 session, lawmakers will seize on a renewed opportunity to act and ensure Rhode Island does not fall behind.
The 988 number is more than a crisis line. It is a gateway to compassionate, trauma-informed care that reduces pressure on emergency departments and eases the burden on law enforcement. National data shows that nearly 80 percent of 988 callers find their crisis resolved through phone support alone, avoiding the need for more costly and disruptive interventions. That is not only more humane, it is also fiscally responsible.
The vision of 988 is simple yet powerful: someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere to go. Rhode Island has made extraordinary strides toward realizing that vision, but long-term sustainability will not happen by accident. It requires decisive action now.
This Suicide Prevention Month, we are reminded that every life saved is priceless and every unanswered call is a risk we cannot afford. Lawmakers have the chance to send a clear message to every Rhode Islander: that when they are in crisis, their state will always answer the call. That is not just good policy. It is a public health imperative.