911 Board Gets Word on Measures at the State and National Levels to Address Mental Health, Suicide Issues

Effingham County 911 board members Tuesday heard about initiatives at the state and national levels to address mental health and suicide prevention issues.

911 Systems Administrator Tina Daniels told the Board about the implementation of a nationwide 988 number for those dealing with mental health or suicide issues to utilize. Daniels said the new number is to be place in 2022. She said the calls to the number wouldn't go to 911, but to something like a suicide prevention hotline.

Daniels also discussed Senate Bill 3449, an emergency mental health bill. The measure has as its goal efforts to encourage mental health, the same as efforts to encourage better physical health. 

Questions from the Board and those present included "Who's going to pay for it?" if emergency calls result, and "Who's Going to Secure the Scene?" if calls lead to intervention by authorities.

911 board members approved 3% pay increases for 911 personnel, purchased a server for power phone cache software, and purchased a workstation for the 911 Office. In addition to 911 personnel, Daniels said telecommunicators needing training can also utilize the office.

The 911 Board added $11,000/year in each of the budgets for the next four years for software upgrades.