WASHINGTON, July 2 - This month marks the two-year anniversary of the launch of Washington’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. At launch, the promise for the future of Washington’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was threefold: someone to call, someone to respond, and a place to go. Two years later, efforts are well underway to build out the system by marshaling response and care resources.

Personalized lifelines offer culturally-competent counseling for veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, and Native help-seekers. Twelve new or expanded crisis response teams are operating statewide. And the state Department of Health is in the process of policymaking for new walk-in stabilization centers and other 'places to go' for people in crisis.

As many as 8,600 people call 988 each month, and another 2,100 people text the lifeline. It's helping people. And as more response and care resources come online, it will help a great many more.