FCC to Consider Making ‘988' National Suicide Hotline Number (1)

The Federal Communications Commission will vote next month to consider establishing “988" as a special 3-digit hotline for suicide prevention, agency Chairman Ajit Pai announced.

The plan, Pai said in a speech at the National Council of Behavioral Health, will help people more easily reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of 163 crisis centers.

“Under my proposal, anyone calling 988 would be routed to the established National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is already saving lives,” Pai said.

Currently, people must call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) to reach suicide prevention assistance. The planned Dec. 12 commission vote will tee up a ...