BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – During Mental Health Awareness Month, the Louisiana Department of Health wants to remind people about important assistance available through the 988 helpline.
For anyone suffering with their mental health, there is hope and help available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People can dial 988 to immediately speak with a professional in a free and confidential setting.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, reasons to reach out through 988 include having a tough day, feeling depressed, stress, concerns about drug and alcohol use, anxiety, and more. If you are in immediate danger or facing an emergency, you should call 911.
Officials said that specialists who take 988 calls will listen and treat everyone with respect. If needed, callers will be connected to more long-term mental health support or alcohol and drug recovery assistance. The specialists can also provide people with local resources to help with things like finances and housing.
The Louisiana Department of Health helped launch 988 in 2022 to make getting help easier. The number replaced the previous 10-digit national suicide prevention lifeline and is designed to be as easy to remember and use as 911.
Since the new number started, studies have revealed details about its effectiveness. Officials said research shows that after callers speak with something, they’re significantly likely to feel more hopeful and less depressed and overwhelmed.
Call centers in the New Orleans area and Bossier City answer 988 calls that come in from people who live across Louisiana. The New Orleans area call center covers the southeast part of the state, while the Bossier City center handles other areas of Louisiana.
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