Suicide Prevention Hotline Number Should Be 3 Digits, 988, Agency Says
The F.C.C. contends that shortening the number from its current 10 digits “would likely make it easier for Americans in crisis to access potentially lifesaving resources.”
Just as 911 is universal to Americans during emergencies, a federal agency says the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline should be shortened to three digits: 988.
The Federal Communications Commission recommended simplifying the hotline’s current 10-digit number in a sweeping report this week spurred by federal legislation passed last year that called for improvements to the system.
The effort comes at a time when counseling experts say there is a deepening national mental health crisis and there has been a spate of suicides among veterans, police officers and high-profile figures.
The deaths of the celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, the fashion designer Kate Spade and the electronic recording artist Avicii have raised public awareness about the scope of the epidemic and how it cuts across socioeconomic, gender and cultural lines.
In 2018, more than 2.2 million people called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, according to the F.C.C.
“Our team found that a 3-digit number would make it easier for Americans in crisis to reach someone who could help,” Ajit Pai, the F.C.C.’s chairman, said in an email statement on Thursday night. “If we can stand up ‘988’ nationwide as a way to access suicide prevention services, we believe it could save lives. I’ll do everything I can to move this forward.”
The hotline was started in 2005 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Vibrant Emotional Health, a nonprofit administrator. The network is made up of more than 163 local crisis centers, which are staffed by trained counselors. Calls to the hotline are routed to the nearest crisis center or a backup call center at times of high call volume.
The change would not require congressional or presidential approval. As part of the its rule-making process, the commission is expected to issue a public notice that it is considering formally adopting the 988 number for the suicide hotline, which requires a time period for public comment. The commission would then take a formal vote on the measure.
The substance abuse and mental health agency, which is part of the Health and Human Services Department, endorsed the plan.
“S.A.M.H.S.A. supports this proposal to make it easier to connect people in crisis to 24/7 support — with the understanding we would need to have the sustained resources to make this update a reality,” a spokesman for the agency said Thursday.
Federal telecommunications regulators say that they examined using existing three-digit numbers, known as N11 codes, such as 211, 511 and 611, for the suicide prevention hotline, but ruled that they were not appropriate. In New York City, for example, 311 is a nonemergency hotline for city services.
Kimberly Williams, president and chief executive officer of Vibrant Emotional Health, said in a statement: “We are gratified the F.C.C. report recognizes the need for a 3 digit number dedicated to mental health support as we believe this number will reduce suicides in the United States. That said, we are interested in understanding more as to why a more easily remembered number, such as 611, was not more thoroughly considered. We look forward to learning more about this important consideration.”
Commenting in the F.C.C. report, federal health officials said when a person “experiences severe chest pains in the company of another family member, both the patient and the family member, despite their heightened anxiety, would remember the number 911, while the concern is that many suicidal people or their family members at a similar moment of suicidal crisis might not remember 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).”
Last year, the lifeline’s counselors also responded to 102,640 online crisis chats, according to the F.C.C.
In 2017, more than 47,000 Americans died by suicide and more than 1.4 million adults attempted suicide, according to health officials.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Here’s what you can do when a loved one is severely depressed.
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