Permanent Funding Sought For Suicide Prevention Hotline
Two years after implementation, more Ohioans are seeking mental health support from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, reaching an all-time high of 20,000 contacts in June.
And yet the federally required service does not yet have a dedicated funding source and is still subject to "political whims," said Rep. Gail Pavliga, who has been the go-to lawmaker for 988 issues.
"The goal is to get a permanent funding source so the General Assembly's political whims aren't deciding the funding of such an important program," the Atwater Republican said in an interview. "I'm hoping by the end of the year we could fund it with the marijuana legislation with a permanent source in those taxes and I've been lobbying for that."
The 988 service, the behavioral health equivalent of 911, was established by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 but was not provided ongoing federal resources. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, October 25, 2022)
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation suggested a 50-cent-per-month fee on mobile phone bills to generate around $50 million annually, but the idea failed to gain traction.
As Ohio neared depletion of its initial $23.3 million in federal dollars, the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services made 988 funding a focus of its Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget request. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, June 11, 2023)
Gov. Mike DeWine and MHAS requested and received from the General Assembly $20.7 million for the service in the first year and $25.8 million in the second.
"The budget was able to fully fund it for implementation and that's the baseline we're at," DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said in an interview.
Since then, lawmakers have looked to the newly established recreational cannabis program as a potential permanent funding source.
The House proposed that 988 receive 12.5% of the 10% excise tax, a provision supported by Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill). (See Gongwer Ohio Report, December 15, 2023)
Meanwhile, the Senate proposed 988 get 9% or up to $25 million a year.
OSPF Executive Director Tony Coder said he would support pulling revenue from marijuana funds, particularly because of research linking marijuana to mental health issues.
"We're open to conversations and ideas, but we need to get something done," he said. "We know the legislature really does value 988, but there has to be a dedicated revenue stream to make this work."
"There are a lot of calls, and they keep increasing," he continued. "20,000 Ohioans are reaching out for this service, and we can't turn the spigot off once you turn it on."
The two chambers have been at an impasse over tweaking the voter-approved recreational marijuana law, having left Columbus in June without an agreement. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, June 28, 2024)
If lawmakers fail to pass a plan that includes 988 funding, Pavliga and Coder agree the service's line item in the next biennium would have to increase, particularly given the growing demand.
Pavliga said more money is also needed to ensure all 19 call centers can respond to chat messages. Currently, only a handful can, meaning that messages sent in those regions are routed elsewhere, she said.
Tierney said the governor's office is still in the process of developing the next budget and that it would be another six to seven months before it is unveiled.
"Like all budget items, it's certainly something we'll be looking at," he said.
Also at issue, Coder said, is that the federal government and Vibrant, the company that holds the national contract, are not sharing local data about the content of the calls.
"Until we have that data, we're going to continue to struggle to focus the money on services that need more funding," he said.
Coder said he has been speaking to members of Congress, both in and out of the Ohio delegation, about making that data more accessible and that some have expressed support.
Since it launched on July 16, 2022, 988 has responded to nearly 340,000 calls, texts and chats for an average of 14,141 contacts each month, according to a release from the governor's office celebrating the two-year anniversary.
"988 is saving lives," DeWine said in the statement. "The lifeline is providing free, around-the-clock support to Ohioans in crisis by connecting them with someone to talk to for help at the moment it's needed most. I am proud of the impact 988 has made in two short years and we fully intend to continue building on that momentum moving forward."
Coder said it is unclear if the increasing contacts is due to higher needs or simply more awareness of the service.
"I'm hopeful it means that more folks are hearing about it and that the stigma around mental illness is also dropping," he said, adding that 911 took 10 to 15 years before it was completely operational.
About one-third of Ohioans currently know about 988, compared to 17% nationally, and MHAS is working to increase awareness with a statewide, multimedia awareness campaign that launched in May.
Lawmakers are also working to increase awareness with a license plate and by requiring schools to include 988 on materials like ID cards and planners or in electronic portals.