New Mental Health Hotline Is Available in Florida

The hotline, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, will provide mental health services and emotional support to people in need.

People experiencing a mental health crisis will no longer need to dial the 10-digit number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The new hotline, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, went live on Saturday nationwide. Calls to the hotline will be routed to the nearest crisis center.

Counselors will provide mental health services and emotional support. Most crisis centers are nonprofit and many utilize trained volunteers as well as mental health professionals.

These crisis centers usually serve the entire community, often 24/7 and free of charge.

Some of the centers that are available in Florida are Heart of Florida United Way,  which serves Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services in Pinellas Park, Alachua County Crisis Center in Gainesville, and David Lawrence Mental Health Center in Naples, among others.

For more information about services and centers, you can visit 988lifeline.org.