On March 28, Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant), in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), hosted a webinar showcasing Washington’s Native & Strong Lifeline – the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) press 4 option. The webinar presenters included Washington State Senators Tina Orwall and Manka Dhingra. Together, they championed legislation that paved the way for creating and funding the Native & Strong Lifeline. Their remarks included the importance of the line and how they built legislative support for its implementation.

The Native & Strong Lifeline in Washington is a subnetwork of the 988 Lifeline operated by Native crisis counselors, offering specialized services for Indigenous help seekers. The webinar featured Kathryn Akeah, a consultant with the American Indian Health Commission, who spoke about the history of Indigenous behavioral healthcare in Washington State and the urgent need for continued investment and partnership with tribal nations to ensure the lifeline's success.

Native & Strong is administered by Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW). The webinar included a presentation from VOAWW’s Levi Van Dyke, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, and Amanda WhiteCrane, Director of Tribal Services, focusing on the operation of the line and how Native & Strong addresses the unique needs of indigenous help seekers. It’s the only program in the nation entirely staffed and operated by Native crisis counselors.

To learn more about the Native & Strong Lifeline, go to nativelifeline.org. To view the webinar recording, please visit the PPGA webinar resources page.