The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) is moving forward with plan to build 988 as the emergency telephony numeral for suicide prevention in an effort to address a public health crisis on mean claiming the lives of more than 120 Americans per twenty-four hour period .
The FCC will vote as early on as next calendar month to put through 988 , which it says will be easier for Americans to remember than the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number : 1 - 800 - 273 - 8255 ( 1 - 800 - 273 - TALK ) .
The effort comes nearly two years after President Donald Trump signed the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act , which required the FCC to canvass the feasibility of designating a three - dactyl dialing code for the suicide bar and genial health crisis hotline . The write up , compile with help from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMSHA ) and other Union representation , concluded that the launching of a simple , easy - to - remember number would likely be more effective in prevent suicides and providing crisis intervention .
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill 30 December 2024 in Washington, DC.Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty)
“ 988 will save lives , ” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a program line . “ Helping Americans in crisis connect to advocate trained in suicide prevention is one of the most important matter we can do at the FCC . ”
If take in , telecommunications carriers and voice - over - IP ( VoIP ) service of process provider would be required to implement the change across all networks by July 2022 . The current life line number ( 1 - 800 - 273 - 8255 ) is to remain active after the change .
Considerable intellection go into prefer 988 . SAMSHA and other agency , such as the North American Numbering Council ( NANC),examined a variety of selection , including the expanding upon of subsist emergency brake numbers , also know asN11 codes . numbers game such as 211 , 511 , and 611 were considered as possible alternative . According to NANC , there are currently eight approved N11 codes and only two share “ some rough-cut determination ” with crisis and suicide hotlines—211 and 911 .
It was determined that expand 211 would make “ confusion and inefficiencies ” in the system because 211 is already wide associated with information , for use in lifelike disasters , for case , as opposed to mental health and crisis intervention . Use of 911 was dismissed because call - book projection indicated the 911 organization would be overwhelmed , among other dispatcher preparation - related issues .
988 is also affect as deliver specific proficient advantages : For example , it is not currently in role as an area code or as a prefix ( the three - digit number following the area codification ) , smoothen the execution summons . The FCC did find , however , that a “ relatively small percentage ” of bequest shift arrangement are currently ineffective to suit the 988 code .
In 2003 , for example , NANC identified seven swap systems unable to support non - N11 codes , such as the Nortel DMS-10 and the Ericsson AXE . “ As telephone companies bear on to elevate their legacy internet , we expect these bequest switches will be replaced , ultimately making the use of 988 as a designate suicide bar and mental health crisis hotline ubiquitous , ” the agency said .
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreportedin 2018 a capitulum in self-annihilation rates across the U.S. even as rates in most other develop land were on the decline . The report key suicide as the tenth lead reason of death in the U.S. and one of only “ three result cause that are on the rise . ” Suicide has been among the top 12 leading causes of destruction in the U.S. since 1975 , according to the CDC . It is the third leading suit of expiry for children ages 12 - 14 . In 2017 , more first responders kick the bucket from suicidethan in the line of duty , consort to the Ruderman Family Foundation .
“ build this special purpose phone number will also highlight the importunity of turn to rise suicide rate in America and reduce the stigma too often associated with search help from suicide prevention and mental health service , ” allege FCC Chairman Pai . “ I desire my colleagues will join me in support these final rules . By doing so , we would send a message to every American : You are not alone . ”
Gizmodo attain out to the other four FCC commissioners about the vote but has yet to receive a reply . A interpreter for FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said he is still reviewing the detail of the proposal .
If you or someone you cognize is having suicidal mentation , please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800 - 273 - 8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741 - 741 . If you are a old-timer or service member you could speak with a qualified U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responder at 1 - 800 - 273 - 8255 ( Press 1 ) .
Update , 2:15pm : FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted after publication that commit to a 3 - digit number is “ near word and a good development . ”
https://twitter.com/embed/status/1275492860217917442
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