A national suicide prevention and mental health crisis number will be active starting July 16. Advocates hope the launch of 9-8-8 will make it easier for those in need to get in touch with people who can help, similar to people have learned to call 9-1-1 for emergency situations. But there are concerns not all states are ready. Resources, such as adequate staff, are needed to make sure the system functions as intended. Otherwise, people may be left waiting on hold or their calls shifted out of their area or state.
We'll hear more and learn about a possible solution for those who need in-person help. That's on this episode of Statewide.
![Barbara Wheatley takes phone calls as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network. Wheatley is an alcohol and substance abuse counselor and the lead clinician for mobile crisis response for Memorial Behavioral Health in Springfield, Illinois.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f2085a4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/880x495+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2Ffb%2F902ed2db426da092b6fb54d2af71%2F9-8-8.jpg)
Bobbi Wiseman - Submitted photo from Memorial Health
* Yvonne Boose with WNIJ has details on an outside of the box Rockford festival for artists.