#National Suicide Prevention hotline number is changing to 988
“#National Suicide Prevention hotline number is changing to 988”
June 23, 2020 | 11:40am | Updated June 23, 2020 | 11:40am
The new suicide hotline number will be 988.
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The current contact number, 1-800-273-TALK, is expected to be shortened to 988 by July of 2022, the Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday. After nearly a year of negotiations, the agency hopes that the 24/7 hotline will now carry the same ease as 911.
“We want the millions of Americans who have been struggling, who think there’s a stigma associated with getting help, we want them to know that they are not alone, that 988 could be the lifeline,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the “Today” show.
The hotline answered 2.2 million calls in 2018, according to a press release announcing the change.
“Based on the public info we got from stakeholders, mental-health advocates, the industry and others, we believe that that two-year timeline is the soonest feasible timeline for getting it implemented,” Pai said of the transition period. The change must go smoothly for both callers and service providers. Counselors will also need to adjust to what the agency expects will be a high increase in calls.
Currently, calls are diverted to 163 centers across the country. The FCC hopes the shortened number will direct calls away from 911 to their service instead. The hotline is run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Congress will vote on July 16 to finalize the change.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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