Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant), the nonprofit administrator of the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline), announced the appointment of Dr. Tia Dole as Chief 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Officer, reporting to Kimberly Williams, President & CEO. Dr. Dole, a seasoned clinical psychologist and nonprofit leader, will oversee the strategic vision and direction of the 988 Lifeline, expand relationships with key stakeholders, and advance the vision, scope, scale, and impact of the 988 Lifeline during a time of unprecedented mental health system transformation.
Dr. Dole joins Vibrant with over 20 years of leadership in the mental and emotional healthcare space, most recently as the Executive Director of The Steve Fund, the nation’s only organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. Additionally, Dr. Dole served as the Chief Clinical Operations Officer at The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth.
“Dr. Dole is a leader in the mental health field and brings a wealth of experience to Vibrant and to the 988 Lifeline as we continue to expand and deliver lifesaving services to those who contact the line,” said Kimberly Williams, President & CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health. “The transition to 988 Lifeline has underscored the importance of mental health equity and access for all, and especially those in historically and persistently excluded or harmed communities. This is a critical time in the effort to strengthen and expand the entire mental health continuum of care in our country, and we are delighted to have Dr. Dole’s leadership.”
As the administrator of the 988 Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), and other nationally recognized services including the Disaster Distress Helpline, the NFL Life Line, and NYC Well, Vibrant’s core mission is to provide hands-on services and resources to those who need it. With the transition to 988 in July 2022, the Lifeline has seen an incredible increase in awareness of the line. In the first six months of the new number, July to December 2022, the Lifeline received over 2.1 million calls, texts, and chats from people seeking support.
“I am honored to be joining Vibrant and the 988 Lifeline at this important and transformational time,” said Dr. Dole. “The work Vibrant and 988 are doing to grow fair and equitable mental health support for all communities aligns deeply with the values that have shaped my career. It is one of the highest priorities we face right now, and I am excited to be joining this team to expand and strengthen mental health services across the country.”
Dr. Dole sits on the Congressional Black Caucus’ Black Mental Health Brain Trust, founded by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and served on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is a published author, holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychopathology from Columbia University (Teacher’s College), received a Fulbright Fellowship to study Forensic Psychology, and completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at Fordham University. Dr. Dole is based in New York/New Jersey.
