This weekend, the United States prepares to usher in a new way of communication and connecting with others regarding mental health services.The 988 suicide prevention hotline is set to launch nationwide on Saturday. The three-digital phone number allows people of any age or background to see mental health help and connect for free with a trained professional. The hotline is available at any time of day or night. The 988 line will co-exist with the currently 11-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline of 1-800-273-8255 and offers the same services to those who call, text or chat with the numbers. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services told WLWT it hopes 988 will become as commonly memorized among children and adults as 911. 988 is meant for mental health crises while 911 is now meant for more physical crises like reporting a fire or car crash. Click here to learn more about when to call either 988 or 911.Congress passed the 988 suicide prevention hotline to be put into national implementation in 2020. It is up to the states to figure out long-term funding. Locally, Indiana and Kentucky have passed laws for funding while Ohio's bill is stalled in the Senate. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services told WLWT there is enough federal funding to launch the 988 program in Ohio for the first year of implementation. Going forward ODMHAS estimated the second year of 988 operations will cost $46 million.The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services told WLWT it has prepared for 18 months to be ready to launch on 988. This includes adding to the number of call centers for the state. Currently, there are 19 call centers to service all 88 of Ohio's counties.Talbert House serves as the call center for Greater Cincinnati and the backup call center for the entire state of Ohio and the nation."The local connection is also important," Ohio 988 Administrator with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Doug Jackson said. "Really. for 988, this is probably the biggest step that the behavioral health system has seen in making improvements to care, the accessibility of care. So when we look at 9-8-8 what we really see is 9-8-8 is the new number for hope,"According to Talbert House, Ohio records upwards of 90,000 calls to the National Suicide Prevent Lifeline a year. Talbert House's Director of Community Care Alex Rulon said his facility field approximately 750 suicide and mental health-related monthly calls. With 38 train staffers ready to answer 9-8-8 and 1-800-273-8255 calls at its Reading Road call center, Rulon spoke about how initial conversations may go if someone engages via call or text. Rulon said it starts with an employee showing empathy to the other person on the line."It gives someone an opportunity to tell their story and to find those life points for that hope within whatever is going on in their life," Rulon said.Rulon reminds the community the 9-8-8 number is another tool to help provide the first step for education and interventive care not only for those struggling with mental health crises but also for their loved ones to use as well."I would say to keep in mind that there are people in our community who are there to assist you," Rulon said. "To be able to offer advice, to be able to walk you through whatever you need. To be there to support that because then being involved in a situation, that's obviously challenging for them to whether it's 9-8-8 or a community-based resource. We have a wonderful team in Greater Cincinnati, they'll be able to be there to assist you."