Monday September 8

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is joining with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to observe the second annual 988 Day Monday, Sept. 8.  

988 Day is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through the overarching theme “Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere.” This observance, coinciding with National Suicide Prevention Month, underscores the critical importance of behavioral health awareness, fostering open communication and extending support to individuals in their moments of need.  

“Strengthening crisis care and mental health services continues to be a top priority in Michigan and 988 is an important part of that effort,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We encourage anyone experiencing a crisis, whether personally or through one of their family members, to use this resource whenever needed.” 

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline consisting of a network of local call centers across the country that confidentially provide compassionate care for people with emotional distress or crisis related to life circumstances, anxiety, depression, suicide, mental health, substance use and more. Calls to Michigan’s 988 Lifeline are answered by compassionate and well-trained staff who help connect those experiencing crisis with support and resources. This line offers immediate support to people when life gets to be too much, regardless of the reason for call.  

According to the 2024 State of Mental Health in America report, almost 23% of Michigan adults have a mental health illness and more than 424,000 had serious thoughts of suicide.  In addition, more than one in every 10 youths had serious thoughts of suicide. With rising levels of anxiety and emotional distress, it is crucial people have somewhere to turn when they are in crisis.  

The support offered to Michigan residents through 988 is vital in providing de-escalation of crisis and reducing levels of distress. Since July 2022, nearly 261,000 calls from Michigan residents have been answered by 988. At the beginning and close of each 988 call, individuals are asked to self-report their level of distress. State data shows that about 54% of individuals are calling in and reporting overwhelming and high levels of distress and by the end of the call only 14% are still reporting overwhelming and high levels of distress.  

The 988 Lifeline is a direct connection to immediate support and resources as the average time it takes for a call to be answered in Michigan is 13 seconds. People who are worried about a loved one who may need support can also call 988. There are specialized services available for veterans and individuals who speak Spanish by selecting the corresponding option on the call menu. 

Crisis center calling services are available in English and Spanish, as well as a Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in more than 250 additional languages is also available. Text and chat are currently available in English only. 

TTY users will be served either through their preferred relay service or by dialing 711 then 800-273-8255. 

For more information, visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Michigan Crisis & Access Line. 

-courtesy story

By: Jack Harrison 

EAST LANSING, Mich. –  Many student-athletes are preparing or returning to the field or court for their upcoming season. With the start of both collegiate and professional sports, injuries are inevitable — and when they do happen, getting fast, reliable results can make all the difference.

Researchers at Michigan State University found that wireless ultrasound devices, which are smaller and more portable compared to standard machines, can provide athletic trainers and other medical professionals with similar information. Not only do wireless ultrasounds deliver results faster and at lower cost, but they also enable imaging in field-based settings — like sidelines or dugouts — which is not possible with standard, cart-based machines.

The study, published in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, was led by first author Jessica Tolzman, a doctoral student, and senior author Matthew Harkey, an assistant professor, both of whom are based in the Department of Kinesiology and conduct research in the Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation Labs within MSU’s College of Education. The research team also included collaborators from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia and the Nike Sport Research Lab.

“We wanted to see if a more accessible, portable device could deliver the same quality of information as the larger machines we typically use in clinics and labs,” Harkey said. “If it holds up, that opens the door to faster, more flexible ways of assessing muscle health in real-world settings.”

Ultrasound imaging is a common, noninvasive tool to assess muscle characteristics. These images can be used to measure muscle size (either cross-sectional area or thickness) and muscle quality, which is often based on echo-intensity — a measure of how bright the muscle appears on the image.

The quadriceps are critical for knee stability, and assessing their size and quality is often used to monitor injury recovery and performance. Standard ultrasounds use panoramic imaging to capture the entire muscle, which requires large, expensive machines typically found in hospitals or labs.

Wireless ultrasounds are more affordable and easier to use in diverse locations, but they can only capture a single image at a time. This study set out to determine whether a single image from a wireless device could provide muscle measurements that aligned with those from a panoramic hospital-grade machine.

The research team evaluated 29 female Division I athletes across soccer, volleyball and field hockey. Each athlete had her quadriceps scanned twice — once with a standard ultrasound machine and once with a handheld wireless device.

The standard ultrasound machine measured the entire quadriceps muscle area with panoramic images, while the wireless probe captured muscle thickness and quality from a single image. Researchers then compared the results from both types of devices.

The wireless handheld probes produced results that closely matched those from traditional hospital scanners when it came to measuring muscle size. This means the wireless devices can be a reliable tool for coaches, trainers and clinicians — even though they don’t provide full panoramic views.

Specifically, muscle thickness measured with the wireless probe showed a strong association with muscle size measured by the standard unit. Additionally, there was a moderate association between the two devices in how they measured muscle quality, based on image brightness.

Because of their portability, wireless ultrasounds can be used on the sidelines, in athletic training rooms or during routine workouts — allowing for real-time monitoring without disrupting an athlete’s schedule.

While this study focused on the quadriceps in Division I female athletes, future research is needed to evaluate other muscles and broader populations. Still, these findings show that wireless ultrasound can offer reliable insight into muscle characteristics — supporting faster, more flexible evaluations in sports and clinical settings.

“This study helps lay the groundwork for using wireless ultrasound more widely in sports medicine. We’re looking forward to seeing how it can support injury recovery and performance monitoring in the future,” Tolzman said.

Funding support included the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the Nike Sport Research Lab. A copy of the study is available via the National Library of Medicine.

-courtesy story