WESTFIELD, N.J. - s4story -- More 988 calls are coming in

Caring Contact, an award-winning volunteer-staffed hotline that answers 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls—primarily from Callers in Central and Northern New Jersey—has seen a dramatic rise in the number of calls coming in over the last two years.

The good news is that it's working

The rising rates of Callers correlates to a 2026 JAMA study that after the launch of the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in 2022, suicide deaths among adolescents and young adults (ages 15–34) dropped 11% compared to projected rates from 2022–2024.* The largest declines were seen in states with the highest 988 call volumes.

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As the Caller rates rise, so does the need for trained volunteer Listeners

Twice a year Caring Contact offers an intensive 9-week in-person & hybrid training class to prepare volunteer Listeners to offer nonjudgemental, empathetic Listening to Callers experiencing crisis and thoughts of suicide. Once trained, volunteers provide 9 hours a month of Lifeline listening.

Volunteer Listeners feel they are making a difference

A recent survey of Caring Contact volunteer Listeners found that 100% of those surveyed feel that "their work is making a difference" and that the "training prepared them well" for this opportunity. A Listener recently said, "It is a rich experience that allows you to make a direct impact on your life, support others and be a part of a diverse and vibrant community with like-minded values anchored on deep compassion and care for others."

In addition, Listeners report that the Active Listening skills they've learned also transfer to leadership roles, at work and with family and friends. "It's taught me how to best show up for people that are struggling in my life, most importantly, without trying to fix their problems because my job was to listen, not fix. If someone is suffering from a personal loss, I give him space to talk without inserting my own experience into what they are going through," reports a Caring Contact Listener.

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Become a volunteer 988 Listener—join Caring Contact's fall training

September 15th through November 17th, 2026, on Tuesday nights, alternating between in-person classroom in Scotch Plains and remote classes, with one full weekend of ASIST training.

Fill out an application at www.CaringContact.org/training to be considered.