House Human Services Committee reports bills to boost promotion of 988 crisis lifeline statewide and in state parks

The House Human Services Committee reported two bills as amended that aim to increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

House Bill 564, sponsored in the transcript as presented to the committee, would amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to impose duties on the Department of Human Services to promote the 988 lifeline. Ashley, committee staff, summarized the bill as amending Title 35 to require Department of Human Services involvement in promotion of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Representative Probst, the bill sponsor in the transcript, told the committee the measure would create “a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, a simple 3‑digit number that connects people in crisis with trained counselors 24/7.” She said awareness is lacking in rural and…