988 Crisis Lifeline Answered Nearly 400,000 Calls in Northern Virginia Last Year

HopeLink Behavioral Health, a regional mental health nonprofit that has served Northern Virginia since 1963, answered nearly 400,000 calls, chats, and texts through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline last year.

The organization operates the 988 service for Northern Virginia. Its crisis workers are trained in active listening, safety assessment, and crisis de-escalation. They also connect callers to local services when appropriate.

"I have spoken to hundreds of callers. While no two calls are exactly alike, I find callers asking the same question again and again: 'Will I be okay?'" one crisis worker said. "What I can tell them is yes, one day, they will be okay, and this call is one step closer to breathing a sigh of relief."

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This year's national theme is "More Good Days, Together," with a focus on connection and community support.

Nationally, more than 59 million people experience mental illness, according to Mental Health America. Nearly 46% of Americans are expected to meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives.

HopeLink CEO Joseph Getch outlined several ways community members can help. He encouraged people to listen for signs of distress in loved ones, ask directly if someone is thinking about suicide, and connect people in crisis to the 988 lifeline.

Mental health professionals are also tracking a rise in anxiety across all age groups in 2026. Teens face overload from social media and rapid information cycles. Older adults on fixed incomes are dealing with financial stress from rising costs of gas, groceries, and insurance.

Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 at any time. More resources are available at HopeLinkBH.org.