RSSRapidDeploy's Radius Mapping was selected by Mental Health America of Greenville County as the new statewide 9-8-8 solution for the state of South Carolina. RapidDeploy is currently deployed statewide in nine states and in hundreds of local 9-1-1 centers across the country. This is its first statewide venture into 9-8-8 centers.
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The 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline launched over the summer as a three-digit code that is easy to remember for people who are in an emotional, substance or suicidal crisis. As mental health concerns continue to grow across the nation, 9-8-8 is an important tool for communities to support their people in need. Since 9-8-8 is new and the number of calls are growing, many states are collaborating with 9-1-1 on available services and how to better communicate with callers in a more intentional and purposeful way.
RapidDeploy is a leader in 9-1-1 call-taker mapping and analytics. Integrating with incoming calls, Radius Mapping supplies mobile handset caller location data, supplemental data for improved situational awareness, geographic information system (GIS) authoritative data, and modern communication workflows with two-way texting and streaming video, all in a single view. Radius Mapping will be used in South Carolina to solve some of the current challenges with 9-8-8 related to routing, communication and resource location. 9-8-8 callers need to talk to people close by, in their local language, through text if needed, and 9-8-8 centers need to know the available resources to help. RapidDeploy supports them in all these efforts and more.
"We are excited to work with the RapidDeploy team and 9-1-1," said Jennifer Piver, executive director at Mental Health America of Greenville County. "Every second counts when a life is at risk."
Greenville County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina has been a user of Radius Mapping for many years, reducing response times and improving 9-1-1 caller outcomes. As part of the 9-8-8 and 9-1-1 collaboration it was able to make recommendations of 9-1-1 technology that would be support the needs of 9-8-8, as well.
"RapidDeploy has been a gamechanger for Greenville County Sheriff's Office," said Amy McDowell, deputy director of E9-1-1 for Greenville County. "9-1-1 and 9-8-8 are working closely together in South Carolina, sharing tools like RapidDeploy that help us better support Greenville County citizens."
South Carolina is the first of many states to need and adopt this technology for 9-8-8. States across the country are experiencing similar 9-8-8 challenges, needing mapping capabilities to support where to route calls and resource availability, in addition to modern communication options. Just like South Carolina, many 9-8-8 centers working closely with local 9-1-1 centers and learning from each other.
"9-8-8 tackles the ever-growing problem of mental health in America," said Steve Raucher, CEO and co-founder at RapidDeploy. "RapidDeploy is honored to work with the State of South Carolina to support their 9-8-8 centers and callers statewide."
As the number of 9-8-8 calls continue to grow, 9-8-8 leaders are adapting to better support their callers and communities. By investing in RapidDeploy Radius Mapping technology, South Carolina's 9-8-8 system has procured the foundation to adapt and grow as its needs evolve.
