There are currently two Lifeline call centers located in Vermont. If a local counselor is engaged with another individual, the caller may be routed to a backup center in New Hampshire. In state lifeline centers are operated by Northwestern Counseling and Support Services and Northeast Kingdom Human Services. Headrest Inc. in New Hampshire is the backup center.

9-8-8 is a free, confidential service, available to all. All counselors are trained to provide support for everything from distress to crisis. While counselors are not required to be licensed clinicians, extensive training is required for all Lifeline Call Centers. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The system is designed to provide resources for individuals experiencing mental health challenges and individuals who support them. Vermont has been preparing for the implementation of 9-8-8 since 2019. On July 16, 2022, Vermont, along with the rest of the nation, transitioned from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. With increased publicity around this transition, the increase in awareness and use of this resource was expected in summer of 2022. For more information on the national rollout, visit 988lifeline.org.

Vibrant Emotional Health (“Vibrant”), as the Administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (“Lifeline”) under a Cooperative Agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”), maintains this data to enhance public access to the Lifeline’s information. 

These data are a total count of the number of received calls from Vermont callers by month. This does not include text or chat contact, which is another service available to those seeking support from a 988 Call Center. This data was pulled from the 'Call Demand' table of the report, which includes NSPL, Spanish, and VA contacts combined.