At the end of last year (2019), the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a proposal to implement a new three-digit hotline number to serve as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai formally proposed 988 to serve as the three-digit crisis hotline number.
For more information about the proposal, watch the following video of the FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai talking about the FCC’s proposal to make 988 the National Suicide Prevention three-digit hotline number.
According to the proposal, calls made to the 988 number would be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of 163 crisis centers that are currently handling crisis calls at the 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number. The FCC states the goal of the new three-digit hotline number proposal is to “help increase the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts, ease access to crisis services, reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health conditions, and ultimately save lives.”
The proposal, as it stands now, still falls short in one key area. It does not include options to send text messages to the new 988 number. Hopefully, this will be addressed as the proposal works its way through the formal rule-making process. The proposal is currently open for public comment.
For information about commenting on this or any other FCC proposal, please visit the FCC Government website page: How to Comment on FCC Proceedings.
*****ATTENTION: The new three-digit 988 number is NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE yet and will not connect callers to the Lifeline. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.*****