Tidesphere

"Hope the night is manageable." I work in a field where people aren't sure how to wish me a good night at work.

988 is not using any AI in conversations with callers to my knowledge. I know that some branches are looking at implementing AI for training purposes, to perhaps give more realistic simulation calls for trainers, but at no point should anybody calling 988 needing help encounter an AI. For the chat platform, I know that the messaging system has some automatic questions that it asks everyone at the very start of the conversation, but it's a machine in the classic sense, and is not AI. Chat/Texters should not be encountering AI either.

988 Worker here.

Every single time someone asks me what we can do to fight the mental health epidemic in the U.S. and the rising suicide rates, I always always tell them the keys are workers rights, affordable housing, a healthcare system that doesn't suck, all of this shit that the person asking typically doesn't want.

I'm not aware of this having happened anywhere. At least not with the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which I assume is the line that's being referenced.

It's definitely true that my training, experience and employment gives me a lot more resources. I definitely encourage people to help others call us, rather than 911, when they're able.

The group that handles 988, the suicide line, is called Vibrant and they're working with 911 dispatchers all over the country to train them to transfer over to 988 if there's any situation like that instead of handling it themselves.

Yeah, unfortunately not all call centers have the same policies. I can only speak for mine.

In some places, but not all, 911 will dispatch them and usually these crisis teams are required to bring at least one officer with them.

Also mental health practitioner here. The confused looks my family gives when they ask how to solve the mental health crisis. And I say worker's rights, better pay, affordable housing, single payer health care, measures against online radicalization, etc

A good tip, many counties have what's called a mobile crisis unit. It's like an ambulance of mental health workers that come to your home and don't take you anywhere. Usually calling 988 you can ask them to help you find yours if you can't find it.