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Opinion: U.S. suicide hotline to become 988. It's easier to remember for those who need it.

San Diego Union-Tribune - 12/23/2021

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With U.S. suicide rates up by more than one-third since the turn of the century, the Federal Communications Commission's recommendation in 2019 that the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline be shortened from 1 (800) 273-8255 to 988 made all the sense in the world. A short number is far easier to remember for the millions of Americans who think about suicide and desperately need ready contact with trained counselors at the 180-plus crisis centers across the nation.

But despite the support of mental health professionals and many editorial boards, the proposal stalled to some degree. This week, however, a firm date was finally established for when 988 should be universally available across the nation: July 16, 2022. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that $282 million in funding has been approved to improve and expand the crisis network's operations and infrastructure, to establish a sub-network for Spanish-speakers and to increase staffing at local call centers.

Given that the Kaiser Family Foundation reported earlier this year that 40 percent of U.S. adults had symptoms of depressive disorder or anxiety — quadruple the number from before the pandemic — the slow 988 rollout is regrettable. But at least plans are now firm. For those with such symptoms, please call 1 (800) 273-8255 — the present hotline.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

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