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Crisis hotlines urge Senate to restore 988 funding after House cuts
Summary
Two Ohio crisis providers told the Senate Finance Committee that call volume for the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is rising rapidly and that House reductions leave the program underfunded; witnesses asked senators to restore executive budget levels: $34 million in FY26 and $41 million in FY27.
Representatives of two Ohio crisis providers told the Senate Finance Committee that the state's 988 suicide and crisis lifeline needs more funding than the House provided and urged the Senate to restore the governor's executive proposal.
Joseph Nijeweski of North Central Mental Health Services told senators his center has seen escalating call volumes since it began 988 service nearly three years ago: 1,122 calls in January 2023, 1,744 in January 2024 and 3,287 calls in April 2025. "North Central anticipates answering more than 40,000 calls for assistance in 2025," he told the committee.
Nijeweski said 988 answers are provided by trained counselors who resolve crises directly and that most calls avoid law-enforcement or emergency department responses. "For the majority of calls to 988, our staff are able to help the person in crisis to avoid the need for law enforcement and other emergency responders to be dispatched," he said. He warned that the House cut the executive budget's 988 appropriation substantially (he cited a House level of $20 million per year) and that the Senate should restore the governor's request of $34 million in FY26 and $41 million in FY27.
NETcare CEO and psychiatrist Bridal Str0h (testifying for NET care) gave similar testimony and described the program's cost effectiveness: of NET care's more than 26,000 contacts in 2024, 95% did not require anyone to be sent to the caller's location. "These contacts are not only the triage one might receive in an ER waiting room, but they're actually on-demand treatment as well," she said.
Both witnesses asked the Senate to restore funding to the executive proposal. Nijeweski cited a Department of Mental Health actuarial study showing a projected 29% increase in 988 call volume in SFY 2026-27 and asked the Senate to restore the governor's proposed amounts so the network can hire, train, and retain staff to answer calls 24/7.
No formal vote or amendment was taken during testimony; witnesses requested that the committee reinstate the higher appropriation in the omnibus bill.
