Kane County health department launches 988 awareness campaign, plans countywide materials distribution

Kane County Public Health officials on April 16 unveiled a public-awareness campaign to promote 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and said they will distribute yard signs, window clings and removable bumper stickers in English and Spanish at community sites and a drive-through event on April 25.

The campaign, presented by Tina Coral, health promotions manager, aims to increase public awareness of the 988 lifeline and reduce stigma so more people in crisis will seek help. “So the 988 suicide and crisis free confidential support to people in distress that’s available any time of day or night,” Coral said during her presentation.

County officials said the campaign is funded in part with nearly $10 million in ARPA funds that the county set aside for behavioral-health efforts and that the campaign will run from May (Mental Health Awareness Month) through September (Suicide Prevention Awareness Month). Michael Isaacson, executive director for public health, linked the outreach to a county needs assessment that found low public awareness: a short survey distributed last winter found 71% of respondents were unaware of the lifeline, Coral said.

Coral described how residents can access 988 by calling or texting the number or visiting 988lifeline.org, and noted that 988 is not a substitute for 911. She said callers in Kane County connect to regional crisis services and, when needed, a mobile crisis response is provided by local partners including Association for Individual Development (Aurora), Ecker Center for Behavioral Health (Elgin) and Family Services Associates of Greater Elgin. “When in-person support is needed, a mobile crisis response team might be dispatched,” Coral said.

Coral told the committee the county logged 1,670 988-related contacts last year, including roughly 1,400 self-calls and 285 instances in which callers reported current thoughts of suicide; mobile crisis teams were dispatched 17 times and emergency services 27 times. The health department said the most frequent callers were ages 25 to 34 and that Spanish-language and interpreters for more than 240 languages are available through the lifeline.

The communications portion of the campaign will include printed materials distributed to more than 50 campaign partners (school districts, colleges, police and fire departments, libraries, behavioral health organizations and community groups), a social-media toolkit and a “Safe Kane County” drive-through pickup event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25 at the Kane County Circuit Clerk parking lot, where residents can pick up 988 materials plus gun trigger locks and other safety items.

Board members raised distribution and outreach questions. Commissioner Juby asked whether health-department staff would attend local summer events and festivals; Coral said the department participated in dozens of events last year and will be present as long as materials remain available. Commissioner Gregg suggested using service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis) to extend distribution; Coral welcomed that assistance.

The health department requested committee members take materials to high-traffic locations and to post on social media using the hashtag #988KaneCounty to amplify reach. Coral said a county “Safe King County” toolkit is available on the department website and that printed materials are also available at the government center and partner sites.