VIDEO: Suicide hotline 988 increase Missouri callers

(NBC) - Call centers for the new suicide hotline number say the first weekend was a huge success.

KSDK's Laura Barczewski talked with two Missouri organizations about the change and uptick they experienced with calls.

Provident Behavioral Health celebrated the state roll out of 988 suicide hotline and got right to work saying the increase in calls quote "... is evidence that the word is getting out about this new number and people recognize they need it, and the 988 dialing code is making it easier for people to reach out. They expected an uptick and staffed accordingly."

You can call or text 988 to be connected immediately to a mental health professional something Marian Mccord with Chads coalition for mental health says is so important at time when people feel alone.

Lauren Moyer with Compass Health says 90 percent of callers just need someone to talk to and can be helped right there on the phone but the other 10 percent need more intervention and through 988 they can get that to them as well.

And if a mobile response isn't enough there's more steps beyond that creating a whole continuum of care.

The 988 national suicide hotline is up and running.

The hotline officially launched Saturday nationwide.

It is meant to be a quick and accessible way for people in crisis to get certified mental health help.