This summer, the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line celebrated its first anniversary and officially combined forces with Colorado Crisis Services. Established in July 2024, 988 Colorado is an additional resource for people struggling with emotional, mental health and substance use issues. The simple three-digit number confidentially connects people with trained professionals 24 hours a day for conversational support and guidance.
Last month, the 988 Colorado staff partnered with the Colorado Rockies baseball team at Coors Field to raise awareness about the service, in addition to launching a free ambient radio option on YouTube (@988Colorado). The organization had a pop-up lounge at the Rockies versus Pirates games from Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3. At the games, 988 Colorado Director Gordon Coombes told 9 News television that the majority of calls the resource line has received have been from men. The organization hopes that a presence at sports games will help raise awareness of the support options.
As of early June, 988 Colorado had answered over 364,213 calls. The majority of those were from individuals between the ages of 26 to 39, who phoned in with ideations of suicide, wellness concerns and/or social or interpersonal stresses. The resource is available in both English and Spanish to maximize accessibility.
Public mental health support services have undergone changes nationwide and statewide this year. The presidential administration shuttered the national-level line’s option for LGBTQ+ youth in July, citing a lack of congressional funding. However, the national 988 hotline was only formally established in 2022. Colorado has had statewide mental health resources for far longer.
In 2013, then-Governor John Hickenlooper’s office established the Colorado Crisis Services hotline in response to the Aurora Theater shooting. That line had evolved in the 12 years since, and coexisted with the national 988 line since 2022. This summer, Governor Jared Polis implemented Colorado General Assembly-passed legislation, SB25-236, to consolidate the state resources for simplicity and better access. Polis also declared Sept. 8 “988 Day” to raise awareness about the state resource during National Suicide Prevention Month.
988 Colorado is managed by a seven-member volunteer board appointed by the governor. The board worked with the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration to prioritize access.
Since July 1, Colorado Crisis Services calls have been forwarded to 988 Colorado. Websites for both the preexisting resource and 988 Colorado provide information on evaluating mental health and seeking help. 988 Colorado has continued to contract with Solari Crisis and Human Services, which previously operated both the Colorado Crisis Services and the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line.
988 provides more than just the quick-dial hotline. People in need can text the number for support, or even access a human-supported chat option via the website. The 988 radio option on YouTube is a three-and-a-half-hour offering of ambient music chosen specifically for soothing and calming in moments of distress.
988colorado.com includes infographics on recognizing emotional distress. Signs of depression or other emotional disturbance can include: difficulty focusing, irritability, sudden changes in sleeping and eating habits, isolating and risk-taking behaviors, substance abuse and fatigue. The website lists a variety of resource groups within Colorado for teens, pregnant women, new mothers and people living with substance use disorders. 988 also directs people to walk-in centers statewide. While 988 does not have a location in the Roaring Fork Valley, the Aspen Hope Center, based in Basalt, offers local resources. The Aspen Hope Center has localized hotlines for the Aspen area and for Garfield County, provides referrals for short-term therapy and has a mobile crisis team.