In this 2019 photo, a man uses a cell phone in New Orleans. Residents can now dial 9-8-8 for mental health emergencies.
A new three-digit phone number, 988, is available in Virginia for mental health emergencies and suicide prevention, part of a national effort to address increases in substance abuse and reports of depression.
The Virginia Department of Health announced Tuesday that it had successfully transitioned the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from its old number to the new one. The number 988 will serve as the 911 for mental health emergencies.
“988 will give Virginians in crisis an easy way to quickly connect to trained support, no matter where you are,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “This is a crucial step in transforming our crisis system so that all Virginians have someone to talk to, someone to respond, and don’t have to wonder about how to access help.”
In 2020, Congress designated the old number — 1 (800) 273-8255 — be transitioned to a shorter three-digit code. The professionals who answer the calls are staffed and funded by more than 200 local crisis centers across the country.
Anyone needing support for mental health distress, thoughts of suicide, substance abuse or emotional distress may call the number. People worried about a loved one may also use the hotline.
More than 1,200 Virginia residents died by suicide in 2020, and the use of opioids spiked during the early months of the pandemic.
Since the beginning of 2021, calls to Virginia’s suicide prevention line increased 23%. Teenagers and young adults have reported increased feelings of depression and sadness.
To counter the swelling need, Virginia authorities have increased the ability to answer calls by 33% thanks to greater funding.
The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
12-21-1977: Students on VCU campus.
In April 1977, the Ezibu Muntu dancers performed at Shafer Court at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond as part of the annual Spring Fling celebration weekend. The dance group, which started in 1973 with a donation from VCU, aims to preserve African culture and history in Richmond.
03-23-1974 (cutline): These two were among about two dozen persons who streaked at VCU yesterday.
03-03-1975: VCU dining hall
12-04-1975: VCU fashion students hang out in their dorm room. Students in the photo: Tracey O'Neill, Joey Koffler, and Sandy Haines watch Rebecca Berry lay out sewing pattern.
12-04-1975 (cutline): Students now can design and pain murals, using VCU supplies, in residence halls. Brenda Woods, freshman, leaves message on colorful "Hang en" board at Rhoads Hall.
09-14-1973: VCU students' bikes parked at VCU campus.
12-01-1971 (cutline): VCU's school of business building contains 146,344 square feet of space. Construction on $3.8 million, five-story facility was started in November, 1969.
03/01/1973 (cutline): Workmen putting up topside addition to the VCU library--adding two floors to the building.
11-30-1973 (cutline): Students at VCU used this idea to add some color to the institutional walls of the Theresa Pollak Art Building. They turned dull walls into arresting designs of supergraphics in color combinations such as orange and terra cotta, violet variations and blue, yellow and green. The continuous geometric graphics extend over classroom doors as well as elevator doors.
08-27-1970 (cutline): Virginia Commonwealth University's new gymnasium has been completed and is being broken in before the fall semester starts. The $1.5 million structure contains athletic facilities that will accomodate 12,000 students when in full use. Here, a physical education student tries out the pool's diving board as other students await their turns. A name and dedication date for the new building have not yet been set.
07-06-1972 (cutline): Classroom bridge would be linked to VCU's School of Business Administration. In foreground is lot on which social sciences building is to be constructed.
01-29-1975 (cutline): Residences on South Side (at left) of Floyd Avenue will be torn down for new campus center. $7.7 million building will be located across the street from VCU's James Branch Cabell Library (at right).
08-24-1977 (cutline): A record number of Virginia Commonwealth University Evening college students, 1,451 signed up here yesterday.Many of those students attend college part-time. And thousands of others, both full-time and part-time, will stand in line doing the same for the rest of the week. VCU officials expect about 18,000 students will register for classes beginning Monday.
08-22-1972 (cutline): Mathematics classes at VCU involve the use of individual study areas and cassette tape recorded lectures. Several subjects have been augmented by tapes produced by faculty members. Four members of the VCU faculty are designing a series of educational tapes for a major publishing company.
03-03-1977 (cutline): Mychelle Gray, Cherryl Claiborne and Katherine Jessup work on designs.
10-06-1971 (cutline): A new "coffee house" sprung up on the campus of VCU this week, offering students a taste of culture along with their coffee. The mobile unit, sponsored by the Womens' Committee of the Richmond Symphony, is getting things rolling for the community orchestra as part of "Symphony Week" which continues through Friday.
03-26-1978: VCU Campus plan map.
Eric Kolenich writes about higher education, health systems and more for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He joined the newspaper in 2009 and spent 11 years in the Sports section. (804) 649-6109
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