“It’s OK to not be OK.” That’s the message from state health officials as 9-8-8 becomes operational, replacing the old ten-digit Suicide Hotline. But health experts in Frankfort made it clear this morning that this line is for anyone who needs help. Steve Shannon with Kentucky Association of Regional Programs hopes the use of 9-8-8 will become as common as 9-1-1.
Shannon said 9-8-8 is a national number with a local response, there are 13 call centers with more than 100 crisis counselors working the phones across Kentucky. Calls from the ten-digit suicide hotline are automatically forwarded to the new three-digit line. Since it went into use on Saturday, officials say the volume of calls has risen 30%.