FCC designates 988 for suicide prevention hotline

The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules establishing 988 as the nationwide phone number to connect people experiencing mental health crises to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of 163 crisis centers that last year answered more than 2.2 million calls and 100,000 online chats. Under the new rules, telecommunications carriers and one-way Voice over Internet Protocol service providers must direct 988 calls to the existing hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), by July 16, 2022. The current lifeline and online chats will stay available during and after the transition.