Students Help Launch Ohio 988 Awareness Effort

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation has announced a new youth-focused awareness campaign aimed at helping young people better understand and access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The campaign introduces “N88,” pronounced Nate, a youth-created character designed to make mental health support more approachable and recognizable to students across Ohio.

The announcement was made during a news conference on May 27, 2026, at Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington, Ohio, with Sources of Strength Peer Leaders from Jones and Hastings Middle School in attendance.

“As Ohio continues to invest in behavioral health services, awareness of 988 should remain a priority. Schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, faith communities, and local governments all have a role in spreading information about this resource,” OSPF CEO Tony Coder said. “Today, Ohio’s youth are taking the lead so that more people know about 988 and more lives can be saved.”

The campaign was developed by OSPF’s Youth Advisory Council, including Upper Arlington High School student Colson Smith, who helped introduce the “N88” concept during the event.

“There exists a lot of stigma around mental health and especially around resources that are available in order to help,” Colson said. “Through a campaign, we want to promote 988’s accessibility and connect with our peers.”

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health Director Tia Marcel Moretti highlighted how 988 is impacting the state’s youth, stating, “The ability to text or chat with a trained counselor has made crisis support feel more approachable and accessible for many youth. Nationally, adolescents and young adults have been among the highest users of 988 services since its launch. That matters because earlier intervention can prevent crises from escalating and connect young people to care sooner.”

Campaign materials will begin appearing in schools and youth-focused organizations during the 2026–2027 school year, as well as on social media through Be Present Ohio and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

A graphic featuring the new N88 character is available to download at https://www.ohiospf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/N88-graphic-for-website-scaled.jpg.