Funding Crisis Hinders Operation of Texas 988 Suicide Hotline

The Texas 988 Suicide Hotline is struggling under a $7 million funding deficit, leading to high call abandonment rates and significant impact on mental health services.

At a Glance

Texas faces a $7 million funding shortfall for its 988 Suicide Hotline.
Over 380,000 calls have been made since its launch, with thousands being abandoned.
The hotline has five centers and 166 crisis counselors handling increasing demand.
SB 188 proposes a trust fund supported by a cellphone bill surcharge.

Funding Crisis and Call Abandonment

Texas’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is facing critical financial challenges, with a $7 million funding gap that hampers its ability to address growing mental health emergencies. With more than 18,500 calls dropped from January to August 2024, Texas ranks fifth nationally in dropped calls. The demand on this essential service is vast, and thousands of calls are left unanswered monthly due to insufficient resources and staff.

The hotline started with over 380,000 call engagements since its inception, marking it as the second-highest call volume across the United States. In just six months, from January to June 2024, one-third of these calls inundated its five existing centers. But with only $14 million of the needed $21 million secured for fiscal year 2024, the infrastructure is severely strained.

Infrastructure Limitations

Texas’s 988 hotline is notably under-resourced compared to other states, managing operations with just five centers and 166 crisis counselors. This results in each counselor handling approximately 95 calls monthly, which is an unsustainable load. Compared to Florida’s thirteen and New York’s fifteen centers, Texas’s capacity is significantly limited.

A notable focus of the upcoming Texas legislative session in January 2025 is Senate Bill 188, which aims to create a sustainable funding environment for the hotline. The proposal includes a 50-cent fee on phone bills to enhance the hotline’s capacity, hiring, and technological advancements, putting 988 on par with the 911 emergency funding model.

Amid funding deficit, thousands of calls to Texas' suicide hotline are abandoned https://t.co/ayI0GBKrae #texasnews

— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) January 6, 2025

Implications for Public Services

The 988 hotline faces significant challenges due to growing demands and reduced federal funding, compounded by the absence of Medicaid coverage for crisis interventions. As local centers vie to meet the 90% in-state call answer rate, they frequently struggle, only reaching 85%. This challenge is exacerbated by relying on out-of-state centers for overflow, leading to higher abandonment rates.

The Texas Medical Association emphasizes the need for proactive state and local government support to sustain this vital service. As the suicide rate in Texas has increased by 37% from 2000 to 2022, securing stable funding has become more pressing, aiming to ensure immediate and effective assistance for Texan mental health crises.