🧠 Catch Up Quickly
Ohio has launched a new license plate designed to save lives—literally.
The state’s latest specialty plate features the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline logo. It’s more than just a number—it’s a call to action. Every plate sold includes a $25 donation to the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, helping fund statewide mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.
This move merges visibility and funding into one symbol: a daily reminder that help is always close, especially during a crisis.
📊 By the Numbers
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538,000+: The number of calls, texts, and chats handled by Ohio’s 988 Lifeline since its July 2022 launch.
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$25: Donated to suicide prevention efforts from every 988 license plate sold.
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1 in 5: Adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year.
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2: The number of lives Chip and Debbie McClintock tragically lost to suicide—an experience that inspired them to push for this initiative.
🧩 The Backstory
The McClintocks turned personal tragedy into purpose. After losing two family members to suicide, they worked tirelessly with state leaders and mental health advocates to create a visible, everyday tool to increase suicide prevention awareness.
Now, their vision has become a reality on Ohio roads.
🔍 Zoom In
These plates serve dual purposes:
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Raise Awareness – Every time a car with a 988 plate pulls up in traffic, parks at a school, or cruises a freeway, it could spark a life-saving conversation.
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Fund the Frontlines – That $25 fee supports prevention programs, outreach events, crisis intervention, and education efforts across the state.
Available at every Ohio BMV location and online, this initiative makes supporting mental health as easy as registering a car.
🧭 Between the Lines
The license plate is more than symbolic. It represents a statewide shift in how Ohio tackles mental health and suicide prevention: publicly, proactively, and with purpose.
🔭 The Life Anew Angle
Here’s why it matters for BIPOC and underserved communities:
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Access matters. These communities are often hit hardest by gaps in care, stigma, and lack of culturally responsive support.
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Visibility breaks silence. Seeing mental health support signals like “988” in everyday settings helps normalize conversations that often stay hidden.
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Funding closes gaps. Proceeds help organizations—like Life Anew Behavioral Health—expand resources into neighborhoods most in need.
At Life Anew, we believe mental health is a human right. This license plate campaign aligns with our core mission:
To provide quality, holistic mental health services that empower families and communities—so every Ohioan, regardless of race, ZIP code, or income, has a pathway to healing.
