Just Breathe: Duluth’s 988 awareness campaign

Billboards and posters are going up around the Duluth area, raising awareness for 988.

It’s a hotline that you can text or call, and those with a mental health or substance abuse crisis can reach qualified counselors at any time.

The 2023 Leadership Duluth Class is launching an area-wide campaign called ‘Just Breathe 988.’

Campaign leader Jeremy Thoreson says, “Everyone knows what 911 is. Our goal is for everyone to know 988 is for anyone in a mental health or substance abuse crisis.”

Additionally you can get advice on how to help someone else in a crisis from this hotline too.

Stacy Crawford of Klear Water Coaching and Wellness also helps us understand the ‘Just Breathe’ portion of the campaign. Crawford tells us, “In a moment of crisis when we don’t know what to do, and nothing is coming to mind. This idea of just breathe: just be present and stay there. We know that emotions feelings come, they go and flood like a river. And even perhaps in the next moment, things might be a little bit different.”

A $50,000 fundraising goal is underway for Boys and Girls Club Mental Health Access
Program in conjunction with the Just Breathe 988 Awareness Campaign, the Leadership Duluth class is joining forces with Duluth Rotary Club 25. All the proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Club’s Mental Health Access program.

Club 25 has a goal to raise $25,000 in 2023 and the Leadership Duluth Class of 2023 is trying to match that same amount through a go-fund-me campaign.