National Suicide Prevention Hotline 988
U.S. regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline.
Similar to 911 for emergencies, people will just need to dial 988 to seek help — once it’s implemented.
Currently, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline uses a 10-digit number, 800-273-TALK. Callers are routed to one of 163 crisis centers, where counselors answered 2.2 million calls last year.
The FCC has mandated a new “N11” code for easier/quicker access to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The new code to be used is 988 and will be mandatory in 2022. Currently, 988 is not active. To minimize 988 conflicts in dialing patterns, See https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-360939A1.pdf for additional information.
The 988 short code will re-translate to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline toll-free number 1-800-273-TALK (8255), https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Mandatory 10-digit local dialing
To make the 988-service possible mandatory 10-digit local dialing will be required by the FCC – The FCC has updated the order to include mandatory 10-digit local dialing. Because Comcast and Fractel LLC have 574-988- numbers in this LATA mandatory 10-digit local dialing will be required. This includes a period of 7/10 digit permissive dialing beginning April 24, 2021, followed by a mandatory 10-digit dialing date of October 24, 2021.
What will remain the same?
- Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the dialing change.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- You will continue to dial 1+ area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 711 (relay services) and 911 (emergency services).
- Any 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811 services available in your community can still be reached by dialing their three-digit codes.
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Who may I contact with questions?
If you have any questions regarding information provided in this notice, please call 219-809-0066. You can also visit the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline