We continue our conversation about the purpose and function of 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. As with our prior episode, we take a hard look at some of the opinions shared in a post  about 988. It seems fair to describe this post as critical. In exploring the ideas of this post, we hope to clarify some of the misconceptions expressed and also offer context. In this episode, we jump right in on a comment about psych wards. “Psych wards” and emergency rooms are places where people wind up when there is no other way to manage the threat of suicide. They should be reserved for individuals who are a real danger to themselves or others. Given their function, they are often less than idyllic. Additionally, most families lack the resources to be able to be on suicide watch for days on end. Psychiatric facilities are a necessary tool to stop suicide, in some examples.  

The post in discussion ends with a suggestion of rather than calling 988, the best thing we can do is ask, “What does help look like for you?” That is a great question in some situations. In fact, if you call 988 that’s almost certainly one of the tools they’ll discuss with you. However, if the threat of death is imminent, sometimes you cannot wait to have that chat. Lastly, we discuss a concern fielded to us about the threat of police to someone with a mental illness. 911 and 988 are totally different entities. However, it is important to note that police are sometimes called to intervene in situations where a person’s behavior seems out of the ordinary and even suicidal. Police often engage with individuals who may be suffering from a mental illness.  The threat of lethal force by police against someone with a mental illness is real. Some cities have come to recognize that a more nuanced response may be needed. Learn a little bit more about Crisis Response Teams for those having a mental health issue in this week’s blog. “Better Policing Policies for Mental Illness.