ByStaff reports
Today at 10:33 AM
ST. PAUL — Since its launch in July 2022, operators with Minnesota’s mental health phone line have answered more than 370,000 calls, texts and online chats
The Minnesota Department of Health shared on Tuesday, July 21, that contacts to 988 Minnesota Lifeline centers have increased over the program‘s four years in use, from 25,000 contacts in the program’s first six months to 83,000 in the first half of 2026
“Everyone has mental health, and anyone can struggle to maintain their well-being,” said Tanya Carter, supervisor of MDH’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit. “When you need someone to talk to, 988 is your reliable rell, text or chat 988 to talk to someone who will honor your stories and listen with care.”
The national mental health service, 988, launched in 2022, which is also when Minnesota’s age-adjusted suicide rate reached a historic high, MDH said, of 14.8 per 100,000 residents. The state’s suicide rate, in recent years, has dropped below that all-time high
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature authorized funding for in-state 988 lifeline centers
Anyone can use the free, 24/7 service by texting or calling 988 or sending a chat message through 988Lifeline.org. Those who speak Spanish can connect with a Spanish-speaking specialist, and specialists can also bring other language interpreters into a conversation
By
Staff reports
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
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