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Didi Hirsch Receives 988 State Planning Grant from Vibrant Emotional Health

February 16, 2021

Vibrant Emotional Health Provides Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services with 988 State Planning Grant

Grant Monies Will Be Used to Prepare California for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 Dialing Code, Effective July 2022

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 16, 2021) – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is pleased to
announce it has received the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 State Planning Grant
through Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline (Lifeline). Through the grant, Didi Hirsch will participate in the development of strategic
plans for California in preparation for the projected infrastructure needs, volume growth, and
access to the Lifeline’s new 988 number. Vibrant has awarded grants to 49 states and
territories. 

In July 2022, 988 will become the national three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline, replacing the current phone number of 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Americans
needing support should continue to call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) until then.

“Access to mental health and crisis support has never been more critical for Americans,” said
Kimberly Williams, President and CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health.  “Vibrant is committed to
providing the states and territories with some of the resources they'll need to plan for the
implementation of 988 and to support their local crisis centers. By working together, we will
increase access to care, reduce the stigma around mental health and, ultimately, save lives.”

Didi Hirsch will work alongside12 other Lifeline Crisis Centers in California to develop clear
roadmaps to address coordination, capacity, funding, and communications surrounding the
launch of 988. Didi Hirsch will collaborate with state leadership, suicide prevention experts,
people with lived experience, and others to create a 988 implementation plan and support the
Lifeline’s operational, clinical, and performance standards that allow access to care. 

“We are pleased to continue serving in a leadership role on behalf of our State’s suicide
prevention efforts, making it easier for Californians in emotional distress to remember and
access mental health crisis services” said Didi Hirsch’s Chief Executive Officer Jonathan
Goldfinger, MD, MPH, FAAP. “Didi Hirsch experts and innovators, collaborating with 12 other
centers and the Governor’s revamped behavioral health leadership, can ensure sustainable,
equitable growth to meet this moment and save many more lives.”

Dr. Jonathan Sherin, Director of LA County’s Department of Mental Health, said Didi Hirsch has
a long history of leading regional as well as national suicide prevention initiatives and is without
question the right agency for this task.

“As a longtime partner with Didi Hirsch and foundational funder for its new world-class Suicide
Prevention Center, LACDMH is proud to continue working side by side to help design, develop
and support the successful implementation of 988 which will not only transform crisis response
but also advance our myriad justice reform initiatives across the County.”

“We are excited that the CA Department of Health Care Services was able to work with Vibrant
Health to have Didi Hirsch lead this 988 planning project”, said Dr. Jim Kooler, Assistant Deputy
Director, DHCS. “We have a state level leadership team eager to support the evolution of 988 in
California and have high hopes for saving more lives with the improvements we will design
together.”

Vibrant believes the new 988 number, once implemented, will ensure the Lifeline will continue to
be America’s mental health safety net by providing emotional support for people in distress,
reducing suicides and mental health crises, and providing a pathway to well-being for all. 

About Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been providing mental health, substance use and
suicide prevention services to families since 1942. Its first-in-the-nation Suicide Prevention
Center in West Los Angeles operates several 24/7 multilingual crisis lines, including the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the national Disaster Distress Helpline. The Center also
provides therapy and support for families and individuals affected by suicide and prevention
training for students, teachers, mental health professionals, first responders and others
throughout the community. Almost 160,000 children and adults are served annually from 10
locations and 120 schools in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Learn more at
www.didihirsch.org

About the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Funded by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a
leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care. The National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in
suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.
The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 180 local crisis centers, uniting local
resources with national best practices. Since its inception in 2005, the Lifeline has engaged in
innovative public messaging, development of best practices in mental health, creative
partnerships, and more to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention for all.
suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

About Vibrant Emotional Health

Vibrant Emotional Health is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and families achieve
emotional wellbeing. For over 50 years, our groundbreaking solutions have delivered high-
quality services and support, when, where and how people need it. We offer confidential
emotional support through our state-of-the-art contact center and crisis hotline services that use
leading edge telephone, text and web-based technologies and include the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline, NFL Life Line and NYC Well. Through our community wellness programs
individuals and families obtain supports and skills they need to thrive. Our advocacy and
education initiatives promote mental wellbeing as a social responsibility. Each year we help
more than 2.5 million people live healthier and more vibrant lives. We’re advancing access,
dignity and respect for all and revolutionizing the system for good. Visit vibrant.org. And follow
Vibrant on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.