NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) -- Now, 911 dispatchers have the ability to directly transfer calls to the 988 crisis line.

In the past, if someone called 911 with a mental health emergency, 911 dispatchers had to either encourage the person to hang up and call 988 or they had to dispatch emergency services themselves.

The state radio deputy director said that if a caller is not a threat to themselves or others, an ambulance could be a little too much, but they acknowledge that calling 911 in the first place takes a lot of courage.

"If you are feeling like you are going to hurt yourself or are feeling like you're having these thoughts, I really encourage people to reach out, because there's a lot of help there," explained Miranda Jangula, the state radio deputy director.

Jangula adds that 988 has the ability to transfer the call back to 911 if they believe the caller is in immediate danger.

The 988 hotline is available 24/7 for those who are experiencing a mental health crisis. You can call or text 988, or chat via the webchat.