Ottawa County Health Department Health Educator Michelle Veliz, left, and Ottawa County Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham are spreading the word about the 988 hotline. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

In 2022, the 988 hotline was introduced to provide quicker help for people suffering from a mental health crisis. Like 911, 988 connects callers with immediate help, but 988 is staffed by trained mental health professionals. The 988 hotline has fielded over 10 million calls across the nation since it was introduced two years ago.

Now, 988 has become even more efficient. Geolocation has been added to the service to allow First Responders to connect with callers who are facing a suicide crisis.

“It’s a new feature created to get quicker service in time of need,” said Ottawa County Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham.

One of the elements that makes 988 successful is the anonymity of the calls. A person in crisis can connect with a trained mental health professional and talk through the difficulty without giving their name.

“The beauty of 988 is it’s anonymous,” said Ottawa County Health Department Health Educator, Michelle Veliz. “That’s why people use it.”

But when a caller is considering suicide, they need on-site help. Geolocation will allow First Responders to find callers and save lives.

“If needed, First Responders can get to them to diffuse situations,” Veliz said.

The geolocation feature will be especially impactful in Ottawa County, where suicides often involve people from out of town.

“We’ve seen a trend of people coming here to complete their suicide,” Veliz said.

Mental health professionals are seeking to understand and address the trend.

“It’s destination suicide, and we’re trying to figure out the connection,” Bingham said.

Ottawa County has a Suicide Fatality Review Committee comprised of stakeholders from across the area. The board reviews every suicide in the county to look for trends and causes in the hopes of addressing problems and saving lives. One of the trends the committee has recognized is destination suicide.

Bingham and Veliz hypothesize that people may choose Ottawa County because it connects them to better times when they vacationed there or because the lake is peaceful and calm. Whatever the reason, they are hoping people in crisis will turn to 988 for help.

Bingham wants to spread the word about 988 now, when current conditions can weigh on Ohioans’ mental health. The presidential election season, the coming holidays, and the approach of a cold, dark winter can be difficult for many people. Help is just three numbers away.

“There’s a number you can call, 24-7, to talk to someone. It’s 988,” Veliz said.