New Hampshire Strengthens Suicide Prevention Efforts with Federal Funding for 988 Lifeline Expansion

New Hampshire is expanding its suicide prevention efforts with new funding to enhance the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a streamlined mental health resource. The Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee recently approved nearly $1 million to bolster state outreach and services under this program. Introduced in 2022, the 988 number aims to increase accessibility for those experiencing mental health crises, replacing the more complex 1-800 hotline number.

Funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this initiative is part of a larger strategy to make crisis intervention more immediate and user-friendly. The funding will also improve data monitoring and workforce support, helping meet growing demand for 988 services. For New Hampshire, the federal agency has set aside a total of $3.1 million, with funds used to communicate the 988 resource to high-risk populations, expand crisis stabilization, and increase workforce training for emergency mental health response.

Moreover, New Hampshire’s Health and Human Services Department will enhance its post-contact services, helping connect callers with local support like mobile crisis outreach. The state also plans to collect detailed data on the 988 calls and texts to better understand caller needs and help improve future services. This data will include demographic and call-specific information to refine support for New Hampshire’s 10-year Mental Health Plan, which focuses on creating a responsive and coordinated mental health system to reduce suicide rates statewide.

For more on this update, read the original article from the NH Bulletin.