Fact Check: "Missouri's 988 hotline answered nearly 85,000 calls in 2024."
What We Know
The claim that Missouri's 988 hotline answered nearly 85,000 calls in 2024 is partially accurate. According to data from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the 988 hotline received nearly 89,000 contacts in total during the previous year, which included calls, texts, and chats. Specifically, 76% of these contacts were calls, indicating that the number of calls was approximately 67,640. Additionally, the report from The Beacon News states that in 2024, the hotline handled around 85,000 calls, 20,500 texts, and nearly 8,800 chats, which aligns closely with the total contact figure but does not specify the exact number of calls.
Analysis
While the claim that "Missouri's 988 hotline answered nearly 85,000 calls in 2024" is close to the reported figures, it lacks precision. The Missouri Department of Mental Health's report indicates that the hotline received approximately 89,000 contacts in total, with a significant portion being calls, but the specific number of calls is not definitively stated as 85,000. Instead, it suggests a figure closer to 67,640 based on the percentage breakdown of contacts.
Moreover, the source from The Beacon News, while providing a figure of 85,000 calls, does not clarify whether this number includes only calls or if it encompasses other forms of contact as well. This ambiguity raises questions about the reliability of the claim. The data from the Missouri Department of Mental Health is more comprehensive and provides a clearer breakdown of the types of contacts received, making it a more reliable source for understanding the hotline's performance.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Missouri's 988 hotline answered nearly 85,000 calls in 2024 is misleading. While the hotline did handle a significant volume of contacts, the actual number of calls is likely lower than 85,000, as evidenced by the detailed statistics provided by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. The discrepancy in figures suggests that the claim does not accurately reflect the hotline's performance.
