JEFFERSON CITY — Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Missouri, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Foundation members spoke to over 60 legislators Wednesday in hopes of changing that.

House Bill 2763, sponsored by Rep. John Black, R-Marshfield, and Senate Bill 1562, sponsored by Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, aim to provide permanent funding for operating Missouri crisis services, such as 988 and mobile crisis response services. A committee heard SB 1562 Wednesday.

These bills would implement a 65-cent surcharge on retail purchases for wireless internet devices or services to fund the “988 Crisis Continuum Fund.” The fund would finance emergency communication through call, text or chat. 

Foundation members spent Wednesday afternoon at the Capitol talking to 64 legislators about the importance of 988 funding.

According to the foundation, Missouri has no laws in place to maintain 988 infrastructure. Missouri also has no laws requiring regular training on suicide assessment, treatment and management for mental health and medical professionals or school personnel.

Lauren Ross, the Missouri chapter secretary and advocacy chair, said the foundation received positive feedback from legislators, including Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, and Sen. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia.

Ross’s personal experience with the hotline drove her to be a proponent of the legislation.

“They are trained to help a mental health crisis situation, whereas a dispatcher, when calling 911, is just trained to dispatch emergency services,” Ross said. “I feel like if 988 had been around in 2002 when I lost my dad, there’s a chance that he would be here with us today.”

Missourians can call or text 988 to talk with trained crisis specialists when experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis at no cost.

In 2022, the 988 number replaced the previous 1-800 number for mental health crises. The Missouri Department of Mental Health also determined 988 would have 24/7 coverage, providing mental health support to Missourians and preventing more costly responses like emergency medical services and hospitalizations.

Missouri had about 100,000 calls to 988 in 2025, nearly 20,000 more than the national average, according to previous Missourian reporting.

Ross said that 988 is currently a line item in the federal budget, so funding is not permanent. If it is not funded at the state level, then the service could be cut from the budget at any moment.