Neon-lit trucks promoting 988 Lifeline to take part in First Fridays in KCMO

Drawing from real, raw calls made to 988, the campaign emphasizes the courage it takes people to ask for mental health help and encourages others to do the same. Dr. Kristin Feeback, CommCARE’s president and CEO, says the neon lights highlight the words and emotions that happen when a caller connects to a 988 operator during a crisis. “When you think about hope, I think about light. And light creates attention,” said Feeback. “We're trying to pull people to the light, which will then give them information about 988.” 

CommCARE serves as the region’s mental health and substance use resource, providing immediate support to residents in crisis and connecting the community to a system of providers. Since 988 went live two years ago, CommCARE’s call center has received an average of 3,000 suicide and crisis calls a month. People can also chat or text 988 to connect with crisis support. 

“Another important thing about 988 is that approximately 98% of the calls our call center receives, we can actually de-escalate the crisis or whatever the situation is and then provide the resources a person needs,” said Feeback. 

The “Get the Words Out Campaign” launched in September to highlight National Suicide Prevention Month. Throughout the month, the 988 “support fleet” travelled to many high-traffic areas across the metro, including Kauffman Stadium, the Country Club Plaza, the Kansas City Power & Light District and the River Market. Trucks also stopped at mental health-focused events, and communities at greater risk, such as rural communities and schools.

CommCARE is part of a regional 988 Mobile Crisis Steering Committee, made up of certified community behavioral health clinics and affiliates working together to create a better, more efficient and standardized mobile crisis response service across the region. Organizations involved in the committee include:

• Beacon Mental Health (formerly Tri-County Mental Health Services)
• CommCARE
• Comprehensive Mental Health Services
• ReDiscover
• Swope Health
• University Health

MARC serves as the coordinating body for the 988 Mobile Crisis Steering Committee. With support and guidance from the Health Forward Foundation and the REACH Healthcare Foundation, MARC began facilitating discussions in January 2022 with the community health centers that serve Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Mental Health and local leaders representing law enforcement, emergency services, medical professionals, educators and people with lived experiences are also involved in the committee’s work.