A building in Bucks County displays a message for 9-8-8. File photo.
Bucks County residents calling or texting 9-8-8 for mental health or substance use assistance are now connected with local professionals from the Lenape Valley Foundation.
The Doylestown-based nonprofit began operating the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for the county in June.
The 9-8-8 service is available 24/7 through call, text, or chat, and works to provide immediate crisis intervention, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, limit law enforcement interactions for mental health crises, and connect callers with follow-up care and community resources.
“In the same way that 911 connects callers to physical health emergency services, 988 simplifies access to behavioral health emergency services,” said Dave Herold, CEO of the Lenape Valley Foundation. “This move will ensure that our neighbors in crisis can quickly reach trained professionals who provide inclusive, culturally responsive care and can connect them to the appropriate local support.”
The Lenape Valley Foundation has hired eight crisis hotline specialists to staff the call center.
The call center staff will work from the organization’s crisis residential center, The Lodge, in Bristol Borough.
Lenape Valley Foundation officials said the staff have experience counseling individuals and families, including veterans, Spanish speakers, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Kris Thompson, COO at Lenape Valley Foundation, explained the process for when someone is connected to a specialists.
“When somebody calls they’re going to be met by a trained, crisis phone specialist, who has training and deescalating mental health, substance abuse, and specifically, of course, folks struggling with suicidal ideation,” Thompson said. “They are trained in how to deescalate those scenarios in the moment. They’re also trained in providing connection to resources for that individual depending on what needs to occur next once the situation…
