Episode Summary

In this solo episode, Rachel takes an honest look at where the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline stands nearly three years after its July 2022 launch. She grounds listeners in how the system is structured, what changed in the transition from the old ten-digit lifeline number, and why that shift mattered more than it might seem. Drawing on recent data, Rachel walks through what is genuinely working, including dramatic growth in contact volume, faster answer times, and rising public awareness, while being equally clear-eyed about where the system is still falling short.

Rachel digs into the gaps that data is making harder to ignore: uneven awareness across racial and language groups, wide variation in in-state answer rates, inconsistent follow-up practices, and a funding patchwork that is not holding equally in every state. She also addresses the recent discontinuation of the specialized LGBTQ+ line and what that loss means for a population already at elevated risk. This episode is intentional groundwork for an upcoming conversation on virtual crisis teams, and Rachel closes with a direct message to clinicians and practice owners about the role they play in what comes after the call.

Resources Mentioned

• About 988 — The official overview of how 988 came to be, what changed in the transition from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and how the current system is structured
• New Data Expose Critical Care Gaps in 988 Crisis Lifeline — Coverage of a 2025 JAMA Network Open study examining all 988 contacts since launch, including regional disparities and lower-than-expected usage in the South
• 988 Mental Health Crisis Line Evolves Nationally, States Seek Stable Funding — Covers recent developments including the rollout of georouting, the discontinuation of the LGBTQ+ specialized line, and how states are working toward more sustainable funding structures
• 988's Evolution: The Next Chapter in Crisis Care — Written by a founding leader of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, this piece focuses on the critical gap between the crisis call and what happens after

Connect with The Mental Health Evolution

• Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast
• Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/
• LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution
• Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Episode Summary

This week, Rachel brings listeners one of her favorite conversations from her previous podcast, The Mental Health Entrepreneur, featuring Dr. Kryn McClain, founder and CEO of CatapalloVR. Dr. McClain is a therapist turned entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of clinical expertise and emerging technology. She built CatapalloVR to give mental health providers, autism specialists, and educators a virtual reality platform designed to help clients build real world life skills in a safe, immersive, and measurable environment.

In this conversation, Rachel and Dr. McClain explore how VR is being used to teach daily living skills, emotion regulation, and occupational readiness to transition age youth and others who need a structured space to practice before stepping into the real world. Dr. McClain shares how CatapalloVR developed its robust library of hundreds of modules through direct feedback from therapists, parents, and clients, and how therapists can integrate the platform using standard CPT codes. She also speaks candidly about the entrepreneurial journey, the importance of finding a peer community as a clinician turned business owner, and her vision for expanding VR access across hospital systems, schools, and beyond.

Connect with Dr. Kryn McClain

• CatapalloVR

Connect with The Mental Health Evolution

• Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast
• Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/
• LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution
• Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution
• Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison