This week in Chicago, grantees and crisis counselors for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and behavioral health leaders and experts from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and SAMHSA, 988 Lifeline Administrator Vibrant Emotional Health, other non-profit agencies, state, territory, local and tribal organizations and others convened in Chicago to discuss the 988 Lifeline and the future of mental health and substance use crisis care in America. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, spoke at the opening welcome session Tuesday, along with SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D, HHS Region 5 Director Michael Cabonargi, SAMHSA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Sonia Chessen, and SAMHSA’s 988 Lifeline Director Monica Johnson. Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon read a letter from President Biden thanking those who helped launch 988 in 2022 and the workforce that supports wider behavioral health crisis system. On Tuesday evening, Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon threw out the first pitch at the White Sox game opening ceremony, which paid tribute to the 988 Lifeline.
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