While many mental health providers, researchers and advocates celebrated the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline last month, some advocates and people who had experiences with the mental health system suggest it may do more harm than good, reports NPR.
The critics took to social media to voice concerns over the risks of police involvement, involuntary treatment at emergency rooms or psychiatric hospitals, and the emotional and financial toll of those experiences,
People who are sent to psychiatric hospitals involuntarily are more likely to attempt suicide than those who chose to go, and involuntary commitments can make young people less likely to disclose their suicidal feelings in the future. Some people also get stuck with large bills for treatment they didn’t want.
In addition, 1 in 5 fatal police shootings in 2019 involved a person with mental illness. According to the hotline’s policy, only when the caller cannot or will not collaborate on a safety plan and the counselor feels the caller will harm themselves imminently should emergency services be called.
In previous years, before 988 launched, emergency services were dispatched in 2 percent of the hotline’s interactions. Experts remain wary of the service, choosing to develop trust in it for themselves before recommending it to anyone while also directing them to “warm lines,” which are typically staffed by people who have experienced mental health challenges who focus less on crisis intervention and more on emotional support to prevent crises.