Senators to tour 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline call center Friday
STATE HOUSE – Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa A. Murray and Sen. Alana M. DiMario will host a tour of the call center for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for fellow senators on Friday. Members of the media are welcome to attend.
Melissa A. Murray
The tour will take place Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. at the 988 call center, 971 Waterman Ave., East Providence. The event will include a presentation on the background of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and BH Link, Rhode Island’s 24/7 crisis center for mental health and substance use disorder issues.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, mental health crises or any other type of emotional distress. People can also call 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. 988 is free and confidential for people of all ages.
Chairwoman Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) will be submitting legislation to ensure a permanent funding stream for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Senator DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) has been working with collaborating partner organizations to create seamless service delivery statewide for Rhode Islanders in crisis between 988, youth mobile response and stabilization services, and certified community behavioral health clinics.
Alana M. DiMario
The meeting will be televised live by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox channel 61, on i3Broadband channel 15 and on Verizon channel 34. It will be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.