The nation’s new 988 “lifeline” is not only easier to remember than the 11-digit suicide-prevention line it’s replacing, it’s also supposed to be a more supportive and trustworthy alternative to calling 911 and risking a police response — a traumatic visit that could lead to involuntary treatment, incarceration, even death.
But the nonprofit agency that runs the only 988 call center in Chicago said fears among social workers about police ties to the lifeline are spreading — and unfounded. The agency, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, says those fears could discourage people from calling 988 and deprive them of needed care.
