Mental health: 9-8-8 set to become national crisis hotline
An easy-to-remember three-digit number aims to transform the nation’s approach to crisis care by providing mental healthcare emergency service.
Claire Hardwick, USA TODAY
Editor’s note: This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Neal and Samara Tricarico first noticed their son Anthony was different when he was about 3.
The Southern California couple discovered that Anthony, then a toddler, had pulled a chunk of his own hair out while they were away. Alarmed, they sought help from professionals. Anthony was diagnosed with anxiety at 4. At 7, he was diagnosed with “high-functioning autism spectrum disorder,” his dad says.
These diagnoses brought relief. And for a while, Anthony seemed to thrive.
He became a stellar student, earning a 4.6 GPA, and often set the curve in his advanced placement classes. Mental health professionals warned he might have problems socializing, but, luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case. At 16, Anthony had plenty of friends and enjoyed hosting parties and poker nights. He threw himself into health and fitness, participating in Spartan Races and marathons.
However, Anthony’s mental health took a nosedive during the pandemic. He confided in his best friend that he felt suicidal. That friend told his mom, who told Neal and Samara. They got Anthony help but knew he…
