Just three months following the launch of Oklahoma’s 988 Mental Health Lifeline in mid-July this year, the call center reports it is seeing high levels of response and assistance.
According to the call center’s dashboard, the state currently operates at a 99.9% answer rate with an average speed of 11 seconds.
Since its launch, the center has answered nearly 10,000 crisis calls and 2,000 texts with more than 550 mobile dispatches.
“This call volume within the first three months shows how drastically our state needed a service like the 988 Mental Health Lifeline,” Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Chief of Communications and Strategic Engagement Heath Hayes said. “As we strive to shift from stigma associated with mental health, we are glad to see so many are reaching out to 988 for help when needed.”
Oklahoma’s call center is operated by Solari Crisis and Human Services and has published a dashboard to view call volume, answer rate and speed, stabilization rate, and more.
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has worked with Solari to provide monthly performance data which includes the following:
- 30-day crisis call volume
- Answer rate
- Average answer speed
- Stabilization rate
- Reasons for calling
- Crisis call volume by month
- Top five referral sources
- Dispatch volume by month
- 911 diversion
Regularly updated results and more information can be found here.
“Our goal is to provide the public with a clear understanding of how 988 works in our state. We are proud of how useful this system has already proven to be for many Oklahomans. We hope that by sharing the data, more individuals can feel empowered to make the call or text themselves if needed,” Hayes continued.
Call or text 988 if you are experiencing a crisis.