Dear John,

It’s been one year since the 988 mental health lifeline officially went live nationwide, and I’m proud to report that it’s exceeding expectations and saving lives. I wrote the bill that created 988, alongside a Republican veteran from Utah, because Americans deserve improved mental health care access. The results after just one year show that 988 works, and that it needs even more resources to grow and improve.

Please share this message with your friends and family, so that more people know they can dial 988 to get help in a mental health crisis.

Since launching, 988 has received close to 5 million calls, texts, and messages. Those calls are received by operators in 200+ independent crisis centers, including 6 in Massachusetts. There’s been a 75% drop in wait time, with the answer rate increasing from the low teens to over 90%. And the volume of text messages sent to 988 increased 1,000%. Here in Massachusetts, about 180 calls were answered per day.

Behind those statistics are real lives being saved.

Each year in America, 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 children experience mental illness, and suicide is currently our second leading cause of death for youth. In 2021, we lost someone to suicide every 11 minutes.

We’re talking about mental health more now – and more people are getting help because they simply know to dial 988. Just as we all know to call 911 if our house is on fire, we will soon all know to call 988 if we or our loved ones are in a mental health crisis.

But to get there, we need to spread the word. The first year has been a success, but there is work left to do so that every American knows this number: 988. Help me spread the word by having conversations with your friends and family, forwarding this email, and posting on social media.

988 suicide and crisis lifeline marks 1-year anniversary (VIDEO)

We need great staff and volunteers at the call centers so that we can expand 988 services. If you’re interested, find more information here.

All the best,

Seth Moulton