Family Guidance Center speaks on the importance of the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the importance of one of the biggest tools in fighting crisis will be highlighted on its eighth day.
Family Guidance Center (FGC) in St. Joseph is reminding people of the tools available to keep going.
FGC has a mobile crisis team that assists 988 with responding to calls in need around the Northwest Missouri area.
However, suicidal ideation is not the only subject matter in which 988 can assist an individual. 988 can also assist persons with finding counselors, problems with substance abuse, loneliness, or more.
"You can call it for any crisis, whether it's suicidal thoughts, gambling addiction, any type of crisis that you're in; you can call and talk to a counselor," said Kelly Chance, FGC's Mobile Crisis Team director. "It just kind of depends, like if it's kind of a panic attack, talking about, 'okay, what kind of things can we do to ground you? What kind of things can we do? Do you need resources moving forward? Do you need to go to our urgent care clinic?'"
988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, shortened to a more memorable number in 2022 after being a 10-digit hotline. The service provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories.
Since the 988 line launched in 2022, it has received over 26 million calls, texts, and chats. The vast majority of suicidal callers also found the service to be helpful and said it prevented suicide, according to a 2025 study provided by FGC through Vibrant Emotional Health.
Details about the lifeline are often shared on Sept. 8, which is during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September. This day to spread awareness is led by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
"(FGC serves) the nine counties up here in northwest Missouri. So you call and speak to CommCare, 988. They say if you need to speak with, like, a mobile crisis response person," Chance said. "So if so, they send somebody; they kind of dispatch somebody out."
69% of adults 50 and over are still unaware of the 988 service. Many are also unsure about using mental health and crisis hotlines, according to a University of Michigan 2026 National Poll.
Family Guidance has expanded its behavioral health reach in recent years with the FGC Behavioral Health Urgent Care at 4906 Frederick Ave. in St. Joseph.
For those who need assistance from 988, they can text or call 988 for immediate help. An online chat is also available by logging on to 988lifeline.org.
