US National 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline Goes Live

Mental health hotlines are a staple of public health, but the U.S. has typically had a somewhat piecemeal approach to the process, with individual states and municipalities setting their own numbers, which are often hard-to-remember 10-digit telephone numbers. While there was a federal program, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, it was also a 10-digit number.

To address the problem, three government agencies – the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – recently announced the launch of a new emergency number – 988 – for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The call centers behind the number will offer round-the-clock crisis care.

The 988 initiative is part of President Biden’s comprehensive strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, and has been identified by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra as a top priority at HHS. Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investments to support the 988 transition, investing $432 million to scale crisis center capacity and ensure all Americans have access to help during mental health crises.

The creation of the 988 initiative is an effort that originated in the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, signed into law after the passage of bipartisan legislation in 2020. The law authorized 988 as a new three-digit number for suicide and mental health crisis. All telephone service and text providers in the U.S. and the five major U.S. territories were required by the FCC to activate 988 and the call center services to support it no later than July 16, 2022.

“988 is more than a number, it is a message: we’re there for you,” said Secretary Becerra. “Through this and other actions, we are treating mental health as a priority and putting crisis care in reach for more Americans. 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 long-term success.”

Edited by Greg Tavarez