YOUNGSTOWN - If you happen to see a WRTA bus drive by, you might also find a message of hope.

Help Network and WRTA are promoting the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Line with a new bus design, to launch their "Hope in Motion" campaign. 

"This message of hope is what's going to reinforce with people that there are people out there who will listen," Help Network CEO Vince Branaccio says. 

By dialing 988, callers will be connected to a live representative, who can provide mental health crisis counseling and access to resources for other critical needs, including food and utility assistance.

Local and state leaders gathered at the Covelli Centre to kick off the Help Network campaign, filling the bus decal with signatures and messages of support.

"Statewide, we've had 150,000 contacts in the first year of service for 988," Ohio 988 Administrator Doug Jackson notes. "We expect that'll continue to increase as people become more aware of it." 

Jackson adds, by calling 988, those 150,000 contacts are able to become 150,000 opportunities for hope.

The "Hope in Motion" bus will be making its way across Mahoning and Trumbull County WRTA routes through December 2023.