Some providers hesitate when a patient brings up depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. After all, you’re not a mental health professional—and you don’t have to be. In moments of crisis, your patients don’t need a specialist as their first responder. They need someone they trust. Someone who knows what to do next.
They need you.
Arkansas patients have turned to their doctors as their first point of contact for healthcare needs. You’ve handled everything from chest pain to chronic illness, and mental health should be no exception. When a patient finally gathers the courage to tell you, “I’m not okay,” they’re not asking you to fix everything right then and there. They’re asking you to dig deeper, open up the conversation, and guide them to the next step to feeling better.
In the short time they’re with you, you have the best opportunity to get them the help they need. One immediate, accessible, and free resource to show them is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline.
From 1-800-273-TALK to 988
We should take a moment to explain a brief history of the 988 Lifeline. Skip to the next paragraph if you’re in a rush. Back in 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched as 1-800-273-TALK to offer immediate support for individuals experiencing emotional distress, depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. As the need grew, the system evolved, and in 2022, the number changed to 988…three simple digits that made it easier to get direct access to trained crisis counselors from anywhere.
The original 1-800-273-TALK number still works, but now anyone can call or text 988 or chat with a crisis counselor online at 988lifeline.org. For providers, this change means that, in a crisis, you have a resource that removes barriers and saves time. You don’t have to diagnose. You don’t have to create a treatment plan in the moment. You just have to connect them to the right support.
Even that connection could save their life.
Anyone Can Call, Text, or Chat Online
A patient doesn’t have to be in immediate danger to use 988. The service is available for anyone experiencing:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Substance or alcohol misuse
- Anxiety or depression
- Struggles with sexual orientation or gender identity
- Physical or mental health challenges
- Past or current trauma
- Relationship struggles
- Loneliness or isolation
- Financial or major life stressors
There may even be things that patients want to discuss but don’t know how to bring up in a 15-minute appointment. 988 gives them a place to talk, even long after your clinic has closed. No matter how a person reaches out, the process is simple:
Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
The system automatically routes them to a trained crisis counselor at one of four Arkansas centers:
- The Arkansas Lifeline Center
- Arkansas Crisis Center
- Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center
- AFMC 988 Hotline
Just like you do, counselors create a plan with the caller, talking through the situation, offering coping strategies, and connecting with local resources. You aren’t expected to become the counselor. You’re simply the one who leads a patient to a team ready to take over.
All services are free and confidential. Veterans can also access the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after calling 988 or texting 838255. There is also a Spanish language option available by pressing option 2 after calling 988 or texting AYUDA to 988.
If a caller is in immediate danger, the counselor may involve emergency services. Any bills come from the emergency response provider, not from using the Lifeline.
What Healthcare Professionals Can Do in a Mental Health Crisis
Medical professionals play a key role in connecting individuals to crisis support. Patients trust you. Sometimes more than anyone else.
You can use the 988 Lifeline in ways that fit naturally into the care you already provide:
- Refer patients or their families to 988 for immediate mental health support.
- Explain the options (call, text, or online chat), so patients can choose the method they feel is best.
- Prepare them for what will happen when they reach out, easing fears about confidentiality, stigma, or judgment.
- Help them identify local services by partnering with 988 counselors who understand Arkansas communities.
- Coordinate emergency mental health services through Mobile Crisis Response Teams and Public Safety Answering Points.
Beyond referring to the Lifeline, when a patient is in the exam room, just a few simple actions can make a huge impact when they're struggling with a mental health crisis or other emergency:
- Speak openly and directly about suicide to reduce stigma and encourage honesty.
- Practice active listening to allow the patient to feel truly heard and understood.
- Reduce access to harmful objects or substances when appropriate.
- Seek specialized support from professionals or organizations trained in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Build Your Skills with TIPP Mental Health First Aid Training
If you want to strengthen your confidence in responding to mental health concerns, AFMC offers Trauma-Informed PACEs Program (TIPP) Mental Health First Aid training for both youth and adults. These trainings are designed to help professionals recognize signs of emotional distress, provide early support, and connect individuals to appropriate resources like 988.
It’s practical. It’s evidence-based. And it gives you tools you can use when you’re on and off the clock.
Providers and community members can register at afmc.org/tipp.
A trauma-informed approach also helps patients feel safer opening up during difficult conversations. If you’d like a refresher, here’s a quick overview of what trauma-informed care looks like in practice: https://afmc.org/blog/trauma-informed-care-a-whole-person-approach.
These may seem like small steps that won't make a difference. But to your patient, they offer hope, purpose, and a path to support.
Supporting Families after a Crisis
Providers also play an important role in supporting families who have experienced suicide loss. Many don’t know where to turn, and your guidance can make a difficult time feel a little less isolating.
To help with this, AFMC recently highlighted the AFSP Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training, which equips communities to offer compassionate, peer-led support. You can read more about it here.
Remember: help is always available.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org at any time. You are not alone. And neither are your patients. Not when you help connect them to the Lifeline designed to support them when it matters most.
