Data shows 988 saved lives and resources in 2024

Nine seconds can be the difference between a life saved and a horrific tragedy. 

Nine seconds is the average amount of time that passes between a southwest Missouri resident dialing 988 and a crisis specialist answering their phone call. Burrell Behavioral Health is one of six agencies contracted to answer 988 phone calls across Missouri, and answers crisis calls placed from 17 counties in mid-Missouri and the Springfield metro area. 

Calls and messages to 988 offer users experiencing mental health crises an alternative to calling 911. The crisis specialists who answer 988 calls offer someone to talk to, mobile crisis responses and/or referrals to behavioral health crisis centers. 

In early 2025, a Burrell crisis specialist answered a phone call from an individual who had recently been released from prison. The individual had difficulty finding employment because of their criminal background and was on the verge of losing their apartment. As a result, the caller experienced suicidal thoughts and ideations. 

“He was trying HARD to turn his life around and make things better for himself, with so much judgement from others who just wanted to see him fail,” the 988 crisis specialist wrote in a report. “I reminded him that he is NOT his charges and that I am proud of him for making a better life for himself and doing what is right.

The 988 crisis specialist referred the caller to a staffing agency, and the caller later obtained employment and called 988 to thank the crisis specialist for helping. 

In 2024, Burrell Behavioral Health crisis specialists answered 6,390 crisis calls, with 479 of them coming from callers who were suicidal in the moment. A total of 219 calls resulted in referrals to 911 telecommunicators or emergency response agencies, which means 96.6 percent of 988 calls — 6,171 — resulted in interventions that did not spend emergency response time and resources.

“First of all, our crisis specialists save lives,” Burrell Behavioral Health Director of Crisis Services Shalaine Periman said. “Second, our 988 call centers allow trained crisis specialists to step in and free up 911 telecommunicators and police officers from situations a behavioral health care provider is better qualified to handle.” 

Call volume to 988 is up in the Springfield metro area. The Burrell 988 call center in Springfield took 4,673 crisis calls in 2023 (not counting misdials and hang-ups) and fielded 6,390 in 2024, a 36.7% increase. Individuals contact 988 for psychiatric referrals, urgent mental health or substance use referrals, crisis de-escalation, referrals to other community-based resources and suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm or harm to others.

Text messages to 988 or chat messages to Missouri988.org are answered by DeafLEAD, and are not included in data obtained from Burrell Behavioral Health. 

Burrell Behavioral Health is contracted through the Missouri Department of Mental Health to answer 988 calls from Greene, Christian, Stone, Taney, Webster, Dallas and Polk counties in southwest Missouri, and in Boone, Randolph, Howard, Chariton, Carroll, Saline, Cooper, Pettis, Moniteau and Morgan counties in mid-Missouri.

About 988: The implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will increase access to lifesaving services and reduce the stigma surrounding suicidal thoughts and mental health conditions. If you are in crisis, feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to turn, call or text 988 or go to missouri988.org.

About Burrell Behavioral Health: Burrell Behavioral Health serves 18 Missouri counties and provides behavioral health, substance-use treatment, case management, crisis, developmental disability, and employment services. Learn more at burrellcenter.com. 

Media contact: Rance Burger, Director of Media and Public Relations, rance.burger@burrellcenter.com