EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — September 8 marks 988 Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and remind people that help is available with a simple three-digit call or text.

The day falls during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and is meant to encourage people to use the resource not only during a suicidal crisis, but also when they are struggling with stress, emotional distress or other challenges.

Stacy Contreras, director of the Crisis Call Center at Emergence Health Network, said September 8 is significant because it marks the transition to the three-digit 988 number.

“September 8 has become an important date for us because it is the official date that we adopted after moving from a 1-800 number to the short 988 number.” Contreras said.

Contreras said the day gives organizations an opportunity to educate the community about the resource and remind people that they do not have to wait until they are in a severe crisis to reach out.

“We take this opportunity to be able to raise awareness, educate the community and just remind them that this resource is here for everybody.” Contreras said.

Since the transition to 988 in 2022, Contreras said the call center has seen a significant increase in people reaching out for help.

“Since we’ve switched over back in 2022 from the 1-800 number, we’ve seen, I would say, like double or triple the amount of calls that we used to get.”

Even with that increase, Contreras said there are still people who may not know 988 is available.

The Crisis Call Center also works with 911 to help connect people experiencing mental health or emotional crises with appropriate resources.

“A lot of the times, the purpose of us being there is to be able to divert calls of people who maybe call 911 because they’re having a more emotional crisis, they’re struggling with mental health, and they don’t know where to call.”

Contreras said people should not wait until they are experiencing suicidal thoughts before calling.

“Even if they’re not having thoughts of suicide, we still encourage people to use the resource because a lot of the times when we have different stressors going on in our lives, they tend to build up. They overwhelm us and before we know it, it might lead to these thoughts of suicide.”

For Erika Lugo, a NAMI volunteer, the message behind 988 is personal.

Lugo lost her daughter to suicide. She said she believes having an immediate resource like 988 available could have made a difference.

“I did lose my daughter to suicide and I do feel that again if she had a quicker resource, which again, like 988, she would possibly still be here because she would have that immediate contact to be able to reach out to.” Lugo said.

Lugo said not everyone feels comfortable reaching out to family or friends when they are struggling, making an anonymous crisis resource especially important.

“Even if she didn’t feel that she could reach out to any of us, family, friends, or anybody.” Lugo said.

Now, Lugo wants others to know they can reach out for help without being afraid or hesitant.

“If you feel that you or anybody else that you know is in crisis, dial 988 because you will get that assistance for yourself, for them, and we want you and them here tomorrow.” Lugo said.

Lugo said people should not let fear keep them from making the call.

“Just try not to be fearful, let go of the hesitancy, the fear. It is completely anonymous, confidential, and just give it a shot.”

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, call or text 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

RECOMMENDED: ‘SONS of Las Cruces’: ex-inmates launch program to help people leaving prison, addiction

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.