NEW JERSEY— As demand for New Jersey’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline continues to grow, Rutgers Health officials say sustainable funding will be critical to maintaining and expanding services aimed at preventing suicide and supporting people experiencing mental health crises.
New Jersey has one of the nation’s lowest suicide rates and has long been recognized for its crisis intervention network. However, an increase in self-harm incidents and uncertainty surrounding future funding have prompted Rutgers leaders to examine how the state can continue progressing toward the goal of eliminating suicides.
The state’s 988 system, launched nationally in July 2022, provides free support for individuals experiencing mental health, substance use or suicide-related crises through phone calls, text messages and online chats.
Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care operates one of New Jersey’s four 988 call centers and is the only provider offering service around the clock every day of the year. The center also serves as a national backup provider when call volume exceeds capacity in other states.
“If you’re going to work on a suicide prevention crisis line, you’re going to want to adhere to best practices, as supported in the literature,” said William Zimmermann, director of crisis services at Rutgers Health’s National Call Center. “We always put the client’s needs first.”
Before managing New Jersey’s 988 line, Rutgers operated the state’s NJ Hopeline crisis service for more than a decade.
“New Jersey has always been a leader in supporting people in crises,” said Gen. Mark Graham, executive director of the National Call Center at University Behavioral Health Care. “Rutgers has been right there since the beginning.”
Rutgers officials said the state’s crisis response system extends beyond phone support. Individuals in crisis can be connected to mobile response teams, community-based crisis stabilization centers and county-based early intervention services that provide short-term outpatient care.
“Rutgers is an important provider of this coordinated web of responses,” said Frank A. Ghinassi, president and chief executive officer of University Behavioral Health Care.
Research continues to show the impact of crisis intervention services. Rutgers cited an April study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found suicides among adolescents and young adults declined by 11% nationwide following the launch of the 988 system, with the largest decreases occurring in states with high utilization rates.
Demand for services in New Jersey has risen steadily. Rutgers officials said the number of monthly calls answered in the state more than doubled between July 2022 and April 2026, reaching approximately 8,000 calls per month.
To meet that demand, Rutgers employs more than 150 staff members who answer calls, texts and chats. During peak evening and overnight hours, as many as 30 providers may be on duty at one time.
Despite the growing need, Rutgers officials said funding remains a challenge. New Jersey does not currently have a permanent funding source dedicated to supporting 988 operations, requiring annual budget requests and legislative action to maintain services.
According to Rutgers, proposed legislation that would add a 40-cent surcharge to telephone bills to fund the crisis line remains stalled in committee, while some newly established crisis stabilization centers also face funding gaps.
While financial concerns remain, Zimmermann said the focus continues to be on helping those who reach out for assistance.
“What matters most is what callers need from the 988 line, and how he and his staff can meet those urgent needs,” Rutgers officials said of Zimmermann’s approach to the growing demand.
