Nevada Invests $49.7M to Boost 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with New Southern Nevada Call Center

Nevada is set to improve its 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with a $49.7 million investment. The Nevada Board of Examiners has approved a contract with Carelon Behavioral Health to establish a new call center in Southern Nevada. This center will join the network within six months, helping the state handle a rising number of crisis support calls.

According to the

Official State of Nevada website

, Governor Joe Lombardo stated, “Nevada continues to refine, expand, and improve our implementation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to support Nevadans. Under this partnership, Nevada’s 988 Lifeline will be able to handle a much higher volume of callers and provide faster service. With help only a short call, text, or chat away, Nevadans who are struggling will have greater access to essential resources to support them when they need it the most.”

To access the 988 Lifeline, Nevadans simply need to dial or text the three-digit number or visit 988Lifeline.org any time of the day, on any day of the week. Callers connect with Crisis Counselors trained to address everyday stress, crisis de-escalation, or provide advice concerning friends or relatives facing mental health challenges.

Briana Duffy, CEO of Carelon Behavioral Health, emphasized the company’s dedication to forming efficient crisis response measures, pairing their own operations with the historically significant Crisis Support Services of Nevada (CSSNV) in Reno. Carelon aims to bolster Nevada’s crisis infrastructure tailored to its specific requirements, aiming for a system where 95% of calls to the 988 Lifeline are answered within 20 seconds. As of September, the service responded to 76% of calls directly, with the remainder rerouted to a national backup center.

Rachel Isherwood, the Crisis Response System Program Manager, voiced her confidence in the partnership enhancing Nevada’s crisis response. According to data from Vibrant Emotional Health, the national administrator of the 988 Lifeline, interventions by law enforcement were required in less than 2% of calls, illuminating the effectiveness of crisis call centers in mitigating emergencies.

Laura Yanez, executive director of NAMI Western Nevada, praised the decision to expand the hotline’s capacity, calling it crucial for the state’s behavioral health system. She emphasized the importance of accessible phone support for those facing mental health or life challenges. Additionally, the changes include placing 988 Crisis Counselors alongside 911 dispatchers in Clark and Washoe counties, allowing for a smoother transfer of calls to the appropriate response. Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department highlighted the impact of this collaboration, stating: “The collaboration is invaluable. 988 will change the course of behavioral health care, and its impact will be everlasting within our Las Vegas community,” as per the

Official State of Nevada website

.

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