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What You Need to Know About California’s New 988 Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Line

BLACK VOICE NEWS — Le Ondra Clark-Harvey, Executive Director of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, explained that call centers have 98% effectiveness in “ameliorating the concerns that so many Californians have.” “For that other 2 to 3%, they are then transferred to the next level of help. So whether that be outpatient treatment, hospitalization, maybe most mobile crises, if a county has a mobile crisis unit, etc,” Clark-Harvey said.

Published

3 years ago

August 23, 2022

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By Breanna Reeves | Black Voice News

On July 16, California debuted the new suicide and crisis hotline number: 988. The short, three-digit federal number is now active across the nation and is an alternative to calling 911 for people experiencing mental health crises.

Recently, 988 has drawn criticism across social media because of the possibility dialing the number could elicit a police response. According to a spokesperson from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number, fewer than 2% of Lifeline calls involve emergency services.

The short, three-digit federal number 988 is now active across the nation and is an alternative to calling 911 for people experiencing mental health crises. (Image: Breanna Reeves).

Involvement of emergency services

“When emergency services are involved, over half of these emergency dispatches occur with the caller’s consent. We recognize that, for some individuals, having contact with emergency services can be traumatic and dangerous, and whenever possible we recommend alternate options such as collaborating on a safety plan, utilizing mobile crisis teams, collaborating with the individual’s loved ones or professionals,” Lifeline stated in an email.

Le Ondra Clark-Harvey, Executive Director of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, explained that call centers have 98% effectiveness in “ameliorating the concerns that so many Californians have.”

“For that other 2 to 3%, they are then transferred to the next level of help. So whether that be outpatient treatment, hospitalization, maybe most mobile crises, if a county has a mobile crisis unit, etc,” Clark-Harvey said.

When 911 is called in the event of someone having a mental health crisis many local police departments have implemented their own crisis teams that are deployed. In Riverside for example, a Community Behavioral Health Assessment Team (CBAT) that consists of two specialty trained police officers and two Riverside County clinical therapists are tasked with responding to calls involving mental health emergencies.

According to Officer Ryan J. Railsback, Public Information Officer for the Riverside Police Department, about 50% of the calls for service that are answered by the department are for mental health emergencies. With trained dispatchers who are trained to recognize the calls, the CBAT addresses the crisis in the field.

“The clinical therapist does a lot of the work. We have the officer there to provide that safe environment for the therapist and for the person that we’re responding to, as well to make sure that they’re feeling safe enough that they can talk with someone,” explained Railsback.

Clark-Harvey emphasized that the importance of 988 is to directly connect people in crisis with crisis counselors who are equipped to support callers in need. She described the new number as a “huge advent in technology.”

Before 988, people were able to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) which Clark-Harvey stated that as a clinician and a psychologist, even she has a tough time remembering the number. The previous number will continue to function indefinitely, according to Lifeline.

“And the great thing is that 988 has been advertised and promoted widely. So, our hope is that there’s going to be less stigma about reaching out when you have a need, or when you’re in crisis,” Clark-Harvey explained. People experiencing a crisis or who need support can call or send a text to 988 and get connected with an operator.

More work to be done

While the 988 number has been applauded by advocates, some remain cautious about future implementation and capacity. Assembly Bill 988, currently going through the CA Legislature, seeks to allocate $8 million from the General Fund to the 988 State Mental Health and Crisis Services Special Fund to support implementation costs.

Omar Gonzalez-Valentino, MS, LMFT, LPCC, is the director of Behavioral Health at TruEvolution, an Inland Empire-based nonprofit organization that advocates for health equity and racial justice on behalf of Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ people. (source: facebook.com).

“I’m really, really optimistic about this number, but cautiously, because a lot of what the bill actually states is that these numbers have to be made available by July 16. Great, July 16, has come and gone,” Gonzalez-Valentino explained. “But a lot of the infrastructure that supports this number is not set, or at least not mandated to be in place until [later].”

According to AB 988, “The bill would require, no later than July 1, 2024, the office to ensure interoperability between and across crisis and emergency response systems used throughout the state, as described. The bill would require the office to consult with specified entities on any technology requirements for 988 centers.”

Gonzalez-Valentino is worried that some counties will be more proactive than others or will have more funding to roll out a comprehensive implementation plan for 988 crisis centers than underfunded counties who may be slower to implement such changes.

“So in terms of infrastructure, I just worry that folks aren’t going to get necessarily the same response based on their geographic location, which has been an issue for a lot of folks in poor or rural counties already,” Gonzalez-Valentino said. “They traditionally don’t have access to the best levels of care or the most immediate levels of care.”

Other local nonprofit organizations like Operation SafeHouse, which supports youth in crisis, are supportive of the new 988 number, but a clinician at the organization plans to test the hotline to get a better sense of the response time.

There is concern that some people will not necessarily receive the same response based on their geographic location. This has already been an issue for some in poor or rural counties. (source: samsha.gov).

Norma Biegel, Western Riverside Region Manager at Operation SafeHouse, explained that the organization operates a text message application for youth in crisis, but the application is only operational from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. For the eight hours a clinician at the organization is unable to respond to a text message, youth in crisis will benefit from the 988 text feature.

“I think it can only benefit everyone as long as they truly have enough people to man the lines, text, however it’s working,” Biegel said. “I think it’s a great feature. I think it’s definitely needed, especially during COVID.”

Limited capacity for text support

When someone sends a text message to 988, a group of Lifeline crisis centers respond. Texting is currently only available in English. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, this service is expected to expand over the next few years to “local and state level response.”

In 2020, during the first year of the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 45,979 people died by suicide in the U.S. — one death every 11 minutes. Among this population, non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Natives had the highest rate, 23.9 per 100,000 people.

“Mental health challenges do not consider any other factors. People are having a hard time, regardless of their gender, their age or their race, their sexuality, folks are struggling right now,” Gonzalez-Valentino stated. “We are not even really out of this pandemic. We like to think we are, but we’re still reminded of it every day. So, make sure that you don’t try to just go it alone. If you’re having a tough time, please make sure that you reach out and utilize the tools that are in place.”

The post What You Need to Know About California’s New 988 Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Line appeared first on Black Voice News.

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EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.”

Published

6 days ago

June 20, 2025

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By Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States: 2021—2025

The people of Galveston, Texas, have been commemorating Juneteenth since the Civil War ended. Yesterday, in honor of the 160^th anniversary, I went there to join them.

You can read about the events of Juneteenth, but there’s nothing quite like going to Galveston and seeing where it all happened.

After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Union troops marched across the South for two months, freeing enslaved people along the way. Their final stop was Galveston, an island off the Gulf coast of Texas. There, on June 19, 1865, Union troops went to Reedy Chapel, a church founded in 1848 by enslaved people, and posted a document titled simply “General Order #3.”

“The people of Texas are informed,” it said, “that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

We can only imagine the joy that spread through Galveston – and across the state and nation – on that day and those that followed.

Yesterday, there was once again joy in Galveston, with a parade, picnic, and fireworks. There was also great solemnity, because Juneteenth is a sacred day – a day of weight and power.

The Book of Psalms tells us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of that joyful morning to come.

As President, I had the great honor of signing the law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. It was our nation’s first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created in 1983.

Our federal holidays say a lot about who we are as a nation. We have holidays celebrating our independence… the laborers who build this nation… the servicemembers who served and died in its defense.

And now, we also have a national holiday dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

Signing that law was one of my proudest acts as President.

Yet for 156 years, Juneteenth was not written about in textbooks or taught in classrooms. Still today, there are those who say it does not deserve a holiday. They don’t want to remember the moral stain of slavery and the terrible harm it did to our country.

I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.

I also believe that it’s not enough to commemorate the past. We must also embrace the obligation we have to the future. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.” And right now, we Americans need to keep the faith and do the work.

In honor of Juneteenth, let’s help people register to vote.

For decades, we fought to expand voting rights in America. Now we’re living in an era when relentless obstacles are being thrown in the way of people trying to vote. We can’t let those tactics defeat us. In America, the power belongs with the people. And the way we show that power is by voting.

So let’s reach out to family, friends and neighbors – especially those who have never voted before. Remind them that with voting, anything is possible. And without it, nothing is possible.

Yesterday in Galveston, we gathered in Reedy Chapel to commemorate Juneteenth, just like people have done for 160 years and counting. We prayed, sang, and read General Order #3 again. The pews were full of families. How many people must have prayed for freedom inside those walls. How many must have sent fervent thanks to God when slavery finally ended.

I remembered the words of my late friend John Lewis. He said, “Freedom is not a state. It is an act.”

Juneteenth did not mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we must continue to work toward that promise. For our freedom. For our democracy. And for America itself.

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Cities Across the U.S. Shrink or Cancel Juneteenth Events as DEI Support Wanes

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship.

Published

7 days ago

June 19, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship. In many communities, the once-growing recognition of the holiday is facing sharp resistance tied to the unraveling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In Denver, Colorado, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival, one of the largest in the nation—was cut from two days to one. Organizers said more than a dozen corporate sponsors walked away from commitments, leaving them with a financial gap that almost canceled the event. Norman Harris, the festival’s executive director, said several companies “pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year.” Harris credited grassroots donors and small businesses for stepping in when larger backers stepped aside.

In Colorado Springs, the local celebration was relocated to the Citadel Mall parking lot after support from previous sponsors disappeared. Organizers noted that where there were once dozens of corporate partners, only five remained. The downsized event was pieced together with limited resources, but community leaders said they refused to let the holiday go unacknowledged.

Scottsdale, Arizona, canceled its Juneteenth observance after the city council voted to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in February. Without the office in place, the city offered no support for planning or funding, leaving residents without an official celebration.

In San Diego, the Cooper Family Foundation lost a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that had been earmarked for Juneteenth programming. Organizers said the decision forced them to personally finance key elements of the event, including cultural exhibits, performances, and youth engagement activities.

Bend, Oregon, called off its Juneteenth event entirely. Organizers cited political tensions and safety concerns, saying they could not secure the partnerships needed to proceed. A public statement from the planning committee described the current climate as “increasingly volatile,” making it difficult to host a safe and inclusive event.

West Virginia, which has recognized Juneteenth as a paid state holiday since 2017, will not sponsor any official events this year. State leaders pointed to budget constraints and recent decisions to eliminate DEI programming across agencies as the reasons for stepping away from public observance.

Austin, Texas, has also reduced its Juneteenth programming. While the city has not canceled events outright, organizers said diminished city support and fewer private contributions forced them to focus only on core activities.

“Thankfully, there was a wide range of support that came when we made the announcement that the celebration is in jeopardy,” said Harris. “But it shows how fragile that support has become.”

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Juneteenth and President Trump

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Published

7 days ago

June 19, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent

President Trump is set to proclaim the federal observance of Juneteenth as the White House is open for business on this holiday. The White House says the president will sign a “historic proclamation designating Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance, marking the 160th anniversary of General Order Number 3 in Galveston, Texas.” The declaration was that “all slaves are free.” This Trump proclamation, according to the White House, “will celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republican Party’s role in passing the 13th Amendment, and reaffirm the administration’s dedication to equal justice and prosperity for all.”

This proclamation comes as President Trump has denounced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anything Woke. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny of 250 years of slavery after the Civil War.

The Juneteenth celebration started when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and told the slaves that they were free on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was created.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Juneteenth federal holiday was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on June 19, 2021. This Trump White House is in full swing today, with a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, not taking the federal holiday off. Also, President Trump will receive an intelligence briefing in the morning and participate in a swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.