Since the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline last summer, more than 2 million calls, texts, and chat messages have been routed to call centers, with 89% of them being answered by a counselor. The call volume has seen a significant rise, with many of the calls being answered in under a minute. The increase in calls is seen as an indicator that more people are aware of the service and able to access it. The lifeline has been testing a pilot program for the LGBTQ+ community, and it has also increased the number of call centers taking Spanish calls. The US government has invested nearly $1 billion in the 988 lifeline to improve the nation's mental health, which is seen as a primary public health crisis