– Live 5 News Reports
More than 26 years ago, Jennifer Piver made a call to a crisis line—not because she was in immediate danger, but because she needed support and a resource. The kindness she received on the other end of the line changed her life. Today, that moment has come full circle: Jennifer now serves as Executive Director of Mental Health America of Greenville County, one of South Carolina’s two in-state 988 call centers.
In a recent interview with Live5 News, Jennifer shares what it takes to answer crisis calls every day: more than 100 hours of training, deep empathy, strong team support—and the growing challenge of short staffing. While awareness of 988 is increasing and more people are reaching out for help, demand often outpaces capacity. That means some South Carolina calls are routed out of state or go unanswered.
The story highlights both the progress being made and the work still ahead, underscoring why local call centers—and community support—are so critical. Most importantly, it reminds us that you don’t have to be in a worst-case moment to reach out. Sometimes, you just need someone to listen.
👉 View or read the full interview with Live5 News here.
