Jefferson City News Tribune reports Missouri’s 988 contacts rose from 59,732 after launch in 2022 to 166,302 in fiscal 2026, while in-state answers improved.
Missouri’s 988 use has grown
The Jefferson City News Tribune reports that Missouri’s 988 crisis lifeline launched in 2022. After the launch, 988 operators answered 59,732 calls, texts or chats in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Mental Health figures cited by the News Tribune.
The News Tribune reports that the number of Missouri contacts increased in fiscal year 2026. In that fiscal year, operators answered 166,302 calls, texts or chats, according to the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Calls, texts and chats included
The figures reported by the Jefferson City News Tribune combine three ways people contacted the lifeline: phone calls, text messages and online chats. The Missouri Department of Mental Health numbers cited in the report describe contacts answered by 988 operators in the state.
The News Tribune does not separate the reported totals by call, text or chat. It also does not provide a breakdown of the reasons people contacted 988, the locations of callers, or what happened after an operator answered a contact.
In-state answer rate increased
The Jefferson City News Tribune also cites KFF data on Missouri’s in-state answer rate. Before 988, Missouri had an in-state answer rate of 83 percent, according to KFF as cited by the News Tribune.
As of 2025, Missouri’s in-state answer rate had increased to 94 percent, the News Tribune reports, again citing KFF. The source extract does not state what factors contributed to the change or compare Missouri’s rate with other states.
How to reach 988 in Missouri
According to the Jefferson City News Tribune, people in Missouri can call or text 988. The report also states that people can use online chat at missouri988.org.
The source describes 988 as a lifeline and reports continued growth in contacts since its 2022 launch. The extract does not describe changes to the service beyond the contact totals and the in-state answer-rate figures it cites.
What this means for Missouri patients
For people looking for mental-health treatment locally, 988 is one way to reach a crisis lifeline by call, text or chat, according to the Jefferson City News Tribune. This directory lists 71 published clinics in Missouri to help people find treatment options locally.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Missouri reporting on access & coverage.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.