JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As soon as Saturday, people having a mental health crisis will be able to dial a three-digit number for help nationwide.
Getting help during a crisis just got a lot more simple as a new national suicide prevention hotline launched.
Baptist Health has spent months preparing to make sure they are ready in case that short, easy to remember number means more calls.
"It was so difficult to memorize that 1-800 suicide hotline number," said Baptist Health Vice President of Behavioral Health Dr. Terrie Andrews.
The 10 digit number that stood in place for years has shrunk down to three - 988.
Andrews is hoping less digits to remember will mean more people will actually call or text when they need help.
"We're hoping they use the number," said Andrews. "If they need help, we want them."
Andrews says Baptist Health and several partner organizations have spent months getting ready for the new number to launch.
"We are working together to come up with an algorithm and decision trees to get these people to the right sources of care once we have deescalated the calls," said Andrews.
She says they'll need more money from state and local leaders to create mobile response teams when the call volume increases.
But right now, she's just optimistic, thinking about how many more people will be helped.
"It's a great thing, very great thing," said Andrews.
Dr. Andrews wants to highlight even if you don't feel comfortable talking with someone, you can text 988 and get help through a chat that way as well.
First Coast News also spoke with a local mental health alliance group about what this means.
Saturday and beyond, if you dial 988, you’ll be connected with trained mental health professionals like the ones from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Jacksonville.
“Here in Northeast Florida, we have been working along with other community partners, we have been working to build the system’s local capacity and we will continue to do that,” said Suzanne Mailloux, NAMI Jacksonville.
Lawmakers see the new number as a way to make mental health care easily accessible.
Schools in South Carolina are even putting the new number on student agendas.
RELATED: Yes, the suicide prevention lifeline is changing to 988, but the old number will still work
“People will know it and that’s exciting to think that the stigma might wash away as well,” said Mailloux, NAMI.
Counselors say there may also be some challenges with the new number and access to agents. If a local agency gets too many calls, the calls may get re-routed to non-local backup centers.
“It’s a really exciting time for our nation, but we do need everyone to continue advocating and acting for greater resources in our community,” said Mailloux.
This could be the start to something new in mental health advocacy, but providers feel there’s still a long way to go.