Poughkeepsie…. September 8th is 988 Day, a national day focused on raising awareness for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and suicide prevention. Dutchess County has long been a leader in crisis response, operating its 24/7 HELPLINE crisis line for decades. When 988 was launched in 2022 as the national crisis lifeline number, Dutchess County’s HELPLINE integrated into the new system, with the Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) experienced mental health professionals answering calls from both the 988 number and from the County’s seven-digit 9700 legacy number. With 988 now widely recognized, Dutchess County DMH is retiring the legacy number and encourages anyone who needs mental health support to call 988 to connect with our dedicated team of mental health professionals.
Dutchess County’s HELPLINE is one of 13 National Suicide Lifeline (NSPL) call centers in New York State, answering calls from Dutchess County as well as surrounding areas including Sullivan and Ulster counties. In 2025, the Dutchess County Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) experienced professionals answered more than 35,000 calls, providing compassionate support to individuals facing mental health or substance use concerns, making connections to the County’s 24/7 mental health services including the Dutchess County Stabilization Center, Mobile Crisis Intervention Team as well as other community resources. The Dutchess County HELPLINE team was recently recognized for achieving the best answer rate in New York State – with 93% of all calls answered.
County Executive Sue Serino said, “Having lost both my brother and nephew to their mental health battles, I know how important it is to have easy access to support when someone needs it most. That’s exactly what our dedicated HELPLINE team does, working around the clock to support our neighbors during some of their most vulnerable moments, and I can’t thank them enough for the compassion they show each and every day. To ensure a smooth transition, if you have the legacy line saved in your phone, please update it to 988 and help us spread the word!”
The retirement of the legacy numbers will be phased in to ensure callers have uninterrupted access to crisis services, with Phase One currently underway. The full transition is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
While the legacy HELPLINE number will no longer accept calls once the transition is complete, the (845) 485-9700 line will continue to be active for text messages only, to ensure people connect with Dutchess County’s local mental health team who are familiar with area services. Unlike phone calls, texts to 988 enter a national network and may be answered by NSPL centers outside of the area.
Department of Mental Health Commissioner Jean-Marie Niebuhr said, “Our goal has always been to make sure residents can easily access responsive, compassionate support when they need it. Transitioning all crisis calls to 988 makes that even easier, and we’re pleased that more people are recognizing 988 as HELPLINE — the same trusted local resource they have always been able to count on.”
DMH has also been working closely with schools, healthcare and service providers and other community partners to promote 988 and spread the word about this invaluable resource.
For easy access to mental health resources right from a cellphone, including 988, residents are encouraged download the Dutchess County HELPLINE app from their device’s app store.
To learn more about DMH’s full array of services and resources, visit: dutchessny.gov/behavioralhealth.
