988 Day: Why Reaching Out for Help Matters More Than Ever

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and September 8 is 988 Day, a time to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and remind our community that help is available when it is needed most.

At Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS), we know that a mental health crisis can happen to anyone. Sometimes, a person may be experiencing thoughts of suicide or another immediate crisis. Other times, they may simply need someone to talk to, emotional support, counseling or help connecting to resources.

Through 988 and 211 Miami, JCS provides free, confidential support to individuals throughout our community. Our trained counselors are available to listen, assess needs and help connect people with the appropriate support.

And recent data from JCS’ 988 and 211 services underscores just how important that support is.

The number of calls doesn’t tell the whole story

A 12-month review of JCS call trends from July 2025 through July 2026 reveals an important finding: while the overall number of 988 calls has remained relatively steady, the severity of the crises behind those calls has increased.

The percentage of 988 calls receiving a formal suicide risk assessment in which the caller reported active suicidal ideation within the previous 24 hours increased by approximately 24.3%.

In other words, the data suggests that we aren’t simply answering more calls, we are increasingly hearing from people experiencing more serious and urgent crises.

Every call represents a person who has reached out for help. And when someone reaches out, having a trained counselor on the other end of the line can make all the difference.

211 Miami: Support before a crisis becomes an emergency

While 988 provides specialized support for people experiencing emotional distress, mental health or suicide-related crises, JCS’ 211 Miami serves as another critical entry point for people seeking help.

During the same period, mental health-related calls to 211 Miami, including requests for counseling, emotional support, referrals or simply someone to talk to, increased approximately 13.4%, rising from roughly 423 calls per month to 479.

This growth highlights an important reality: not every person who needs mental health support is experiencing a crisis.

Sometimes, reaching out early, before a situation becomes an emergency, is an important first step toward getting help.

A person might call because they are struggling with grief, feeling overwhelmed, experiencing emotional distress, looking for counseling or simply don’t know where to turn. 211 Miami counselors can listen, assess the situation and help connect callers with appropriate community resources.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to call 988

One of the most important messages we can share during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is that you don’t have to wait until you’re at your breaking point to ask for help.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress or a mental health crisis, calling or texting 988 connects you with trained crisis counselors who can provide support and help determine the next step.

And if you need help finding community resources, counseling, emotional support or other services, 211 Miami is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Both services offer a safe place to start a conversation.

This September, during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and on 988 Day, we encourage everyone to learn the signs, start the conversation and remember that help is available.

If you are struggling, you are not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Need Help?

Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Call 211 to connect with 211 Miami for free, confidential information, emotional support, crisis assistance and referrals to community resources. 211 Miami serves Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties and is available 24/7/365.

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.