988 coming soon
Suicide prevention hotline could private help, mental health resources to those in need.
The Editorial Board
Wed, 22 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT
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The Federal Communications Commission recently unanimously voted to move forward with a proposal to set up a new suicide prevention hotline with a simple, easy-to-remember number similar to 911. The proposed number — 988 — would be a commonsense means of streamlining access to vital suicide prevention and mental health resources for those in need.
Since the late 1990s, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in suicide. From 1999 to 2017, the suicide rate jumped by 33 percent. More than 47,000 people committed suicide in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The issue is particularly acute for young people. From 2007 to 2017, the rate of suicide among Americans ages 10 to 24 rose 56 percent, from 6.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 10.6, according to the CDC.
Explanations for this epidemic are myriad and solutions are frustratingly hard to come by. But improving access to critical resources, including those available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, would be a solid, practical step.
Efforts to create the three-digit dialing code began in August 2018, after Congress passed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. That measure prompted a study, conducted by the FCC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which found that “the record supports the use of a dedicated three-digit dialing code as a way to increase the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts, ease access to crisis services and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health conditions.”
The proposed 988 number that the FCC is pursuing would link callers to an existing network of 163 crisis call centers throughout the country, already accessible at 1-800-273-TALK. Establishing this more streamlined system will require both time and money. The FCC hopes to have the 988 number ready within the next 18 months, and implementing the requisite telecommunications and crisis center infrastructure will cost about $570 million in the first year and $175 million in the second. But this is a small cost to pay relative to the number of lives that can be saved thanks to the hotline’s services.
After the number is established, it will be essential that the FCC market it. And schools should teach young children about the 988 number at the same time they learn about 911. The hotline will be successful only if those in need know to call.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). It’s always open, and you can speak to a trained counselor.