FCC approves plans for 988 as national three-digit suicide prevention hotline

[BeckyDem]

U.S. suicide rates are at their highest levels since World War II.

By
Taylor Telford
Dec. 13, 2019 at 9:35 a.m. EST

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved plans Thursday for a national, three-digit suicide prevention hotline: 988.

With a three-digit number, the FCC hopes that the hotline will be simpler to remember in times of crisis and send a message to the public that mental health crises are as equally important as medical emergencies. The commission will take public comment on the hotline proposal before starting the rulemaking process. The proposal calls for carriers to implement 988 in the next 18 months.

“988 has an echo of the 911 number we all know as an emergency number,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Thursday during the commission’s open December meeting. “We believe that this three-digit number dedicated for this purpose will help ease access to crisis services, it will reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health conditions, and ultimately it will save lives.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/12/13/fcc-approves-plans-national-digit-suicide-prevention-hotline/

[renate]

1. That's weird--is Ajit Pai doing something... good?

This is only the second thing, after prison reform, to come out of this administration that I can think of that seems compassionate and would actually help people.

Of course, this would require funding for the staff to answer the calls and for the mental health treatment that callers would require, and I doubt that will happen, so... my optimism is guarded. But hey, it’s nice to see a spark of humanity.

[BeckyDem]

2. I don't think they had much choice.