New nationwide 988 suicide and crisis hotline sees success saving lives in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Since 988 launched nationwide in July, the suicide and crisis lifeline has seen an increase in calls in Utah.

Rachel Lucynski, director of community crisis services with Huntsman Mental Health Institute, said they have seen a 35% increase from August 2021 to 2022 in calls to 988 versus the old 10-digit number.

"What used to be 1-800-273-8255 is now 988. Much easier to remember, much easier to access life-saving support," Lucynski said. "We were surprised. I anticipated that there would be an increase in calls, but really, we weren't exactly sure what to expect."

Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley, began the push for a three-digit suicide prevention hotline for Utah nearly a decade ago. In 2016, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Stewart heard about Thatcher's idea, worked on it and eventually Congress paved the way for 988 to become a national suicide hotline in July 2022.

Lucynski attributes the new number's success to the work they did to educate Utahns before the new hotline launched.

"Because of our preparation, we are in the top tier of answer rates in the country," she said.

The Utah crisis line is staffed 24/7 by a team of certified crisis workers that help each caller navigate their next steps — work that Lucynski said has saved lives.

"We know that there are more than 1,000 people who are still here today based on the calls that we have handled," she said.

Lucynski said as calls increase, they are looking for mental health counselors to join their team. They have a goal to double the size of their department this fiscal year. Jobs are posted on employment.utah.edu.

Connecting with resources

Maddy Spaulding did not know about the suicide prevention hotline when she attempted suicide at just 15 years old in 2015. She spent several days in the hospital, a place, she says, that changed her for the better.

"The hospital was really great. They connected me with a lot of resources," she said. "A social worker there would come and visit with me every couple hours."

She said it was during those visits she learned about the numerous mental health resources available to people just like her.

"I didn't realize that there are a lot of people going through similar things, that there are a lot of resources for people going through those things," Spaulding said. "I think I would have been gone within like a year of that first attempt if I didn't have all the resources that I have."

Now, seven years later, Spaulding still takes advantage of mental health resources and participates in suicide awareness events. She hopes her story educates others on the help that is out there, like the 988 line.

"Not only is there hope but there's options when you feel like there is no hope," Spaulding said. "It just makes me very happy to know that, hopefully, fewer people will struggle the way I did because of that (988) number."

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