A new, easier-to-remember phone number to help those suffering a mental health crisis went live Saturday, July 16. Following the passing of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, 9-8-8 is the nationwide telephone number for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The previous number 1-800-273-8255 will remain active.
The act, which was introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) Oct. 22, 2019, became public law Oct. 17, 2020, requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to designate the number. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs were both tasked to report on how to make the use of 9-8-8 operational and effective across the country. HHS was required to develop a strategy to provide access to competent, specialized services for high-risk populations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth; minorities; and rural individuals.
“This is truly a historic moment, which recognizes the importance of mental health and how critical it is to connect people in crisis with lifesaving support. It’s also a time for reimagining crisis response to ensure everyone in our country has access to mental health crisis services, whether through talking with a trained counselor over the phone, or with a mental health professional, in person, through mobile crisis support. Finally, mental health is being viewed as equal to every other aspect of our health,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Bob Gebbia wrote in a press release.
According to AFSP and verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45,979 Americans died by suicide in 2020. It was the second leading cause of death for Americans aged 20-34. The same report states that 90% of those who died by suicide had a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death.
The AFSP said 54% of Americans have been affected by suicide in some way and 1.2 million Americans have attempted suicide. According to Mental Health Texas, 61% of adults in Texas who needed mental health treatment last year did not receive it.
The three-digit number is a direct line of access for people experiencing a mental health crisis to seek help from trained counselors. The hotline is open 24/7. Anyone in the U.S. who needs mental health support or who is with someone in mental health distress can call or text the number to seek help.
“988 is more than a number, it is a message: we’re there for you. Through this and other actions, we are treating mental health as a priority and putting crisis care in reach for more Americans,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote in a press release. “There is still much work to do. But what matters is that we’re launching, 988 will be live. We are looking to every governor and every state in the nation to do their part to make this a longterm success.”
According to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network, when people call, text or utilize the hotline service via internet chat (988lifeline.org/chat/), they will be connected to trained counselors who are part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. The network is made up of nearly 200 crisis centers and callers will typically be connected to the nearest center to the calling location. If staffers in a local center are unavailable, the call or text is transferred to a national center to ensure help is available. Counselors complete a training course before they’re allowed to answer phones.
The Department of Veteran Affairs administers its Veteran crisis Line through the Lifeline’s national network. Because of VA’s partnership with the Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line is affected by this transition to a new number. Veterans and their loved ones can now Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
“988 has been a long time coming and will serve as a critical resource during a crisis when every second counts. The new, shorter number will help ensure Veterans have easier access to the Veterans Crisis Line,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough wrote in the HHS release. “This launch is a whole-of-government approach in line with the President’s call to prioritize mental health by strengthening access to crisis services, and preventing Veteran suicide, our top clinical priority.”
More information on 988 is available at samhsa.gov/988 and samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs.
