I recently received a comment from a friend about her heartbreaking experience with the 9-8-8 mental health crisis line. When she called seeking urgent help, she was met with silence and unavailable support, because they were simply too busy to handle every call. This left me, and probably you too, wondering: where do people turn during moments of crisis when traditional support systems fall short?

In our darkest moments, having someone to talk to can be lifesaving. When I faced my struggles, I turned to unhealthy options like drugs and alcohol. Thankfully, I now lean on healthier outlets like the gym and family, but not everyone has reached that point or has those resources available. Many are left alone, without immediate support. They need someone to catch them when they’re about to fall, and 9-8-8 should be that safety net.

The critical problem is inadequate staffing and funding for 9-8-8, leaving too many callers without the immediate help they desperately seek. Increasing the funding would allow for more counselors to be on standby, ensure their training, and ultimately save lives. This support system is vital, and we must ensure it can actually support those in need.

As a community, we need to stand up and ensure that when someone reaches out for help, there’s always someone ready to listen. Every call ignored is a life put at risk. By increasing funding, we can expand support for 9-8-8, ensuring they have the resources to answer every call and provide the immediate help that is often the difference between life and death.

Please join me in advocating for increased funding for 9-8-8 to ensure it can fulfill its promise of providing critical mental health support. Sign this petition to make sure that when anyone reaches out for help, their call is never left unanswered.