Goodwill of Finger Lakes will help with mental health calls from 988 lifeline

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Goodwill of the Finger Lakes announced on Tuesday that they will help to answer mental health crisis calls coming in through the lifeline 988.

The nationwide lifeline created earlier in July is for helping people with suicidal, substance abuse, or mental wellness crises. The local 988 lifeline team will be housed in Goodwill’s Finger Lakes Contact Center on South Clinton Avenue in Rochester.

People who call 988 will have access to trained mental health counselors. The lifeline is open 24 hours a day, any day.

Goodwill recently renovated their 7,000-square-foot contact center used for social enterprise and human services. Jennifer Lake, President of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, said it’s an honor to be one of the groups across the country supporting the lifeline.

“988 is a new program that will radically change how we as a community approach mental health crisis support,” she said.

You can call or text 988 if you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis.

You can visit the website for the 988 lifeline to learn more.