Bill Overview
Title: 988 Coordination and Improvement Act
Description: This bill supports efforts related to behavioral health crisis care, with a particular focus on the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (a three-digit number that connects callers in suicidal crisis or mental health distress to a national network of crisis centers).
Sponsors: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Target Audience
Population: People globally who experience mental health distress or suicidal crisis
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a service designed for those experiencing mental health distress or suicidal crisis.
- The 988 service is accessible to anyone who is in the US and can dial the number, making it applicable to the entire population able to initiate a phone call.
- Approximately 21% of adults in the United States experience mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
- The new bill will improve coordination, which could influence the effectiveness and accessibility of the service.
- An improvements of services could prompt more people to use the service, affecting a larger potential user base.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts individuals experiencing mental health distress, which is a significant portion of the population, though not everyone will be impacted equally.
- The budget constraints mean that improvements must be effective and far-reaching to maximize benefits for the target group.
- Consideration must be given to various demographic factors, such as age, occupation, and access to communication tools like phones, which could influence the ability to access and benefit from the service.
- The policy's focus on coordination should lead to more efficient use of resources, potentially maximizing the positive impact on wellbeing scores among the target population.
Simulated Interviews
Mental Health Counselor (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The 988 service is a great initiative, but it needs robust support and accessibility to truly benefit those in crisis.
- Having a streamlined process can potentially reduce wait times and improve crisis response.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is crucial for people who may not have immediate access to mental health care.
- It's important for crisis lines to have the resources to connect people to the help they need quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Barista (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might make a real change, especially for young people scared to reach out.
- The service can save lives if managed properly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even though I probably won't use it, knowing it's there gives some comfort.
- Improving mental health services is always a positive step for the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is much needed; access to immediate crisis support could change everything for students like me.
- I hope the policy means more counselors and less waiting time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Denver, CO)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this are long overdue for people like me who are lost with PTSD.
- Calls go a long way in short moments; coordination might really make this a lifeline.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Marketing Specialist (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the integration of mental health resources into easily accessible forms like a hotline.
- Worried about resource constraints affecting real-time help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Truck Driver (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can see the value of this support for people on the road like me who feel isolated.
- Coordination improvements might make it more worthwhile contacting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High School Student (Portland, OR)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having 988 is crucial for teens needing confidential support instantly.
- Hope the policy helps more friends in need to feel safer reaching out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen students and teachers alike benefit from accessible mental health services.
- While I may not need it, it's essential for younger folks and those in active crisis.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $220000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $230000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $240000000)
Year 5: $240000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $260000000)
Year 10: $280000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $400000000 (Low: $380000000, High: $420000000)
Key Considerations
- Infrastructure upgrades are necessary to handle increased demand on the 988 Lifeline.
- Training and recruitment of qualified mental health professionals are crucial for effective service delivery.
- Coordination among federal, state, and local agencies will be required to successfully implement and integrate improvements.
- Public awareness campaigns to inform potential users about the availability and benefits of the 988 service.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the program meets its objectives while controlling costs.