The US suicide hotline phone number is changing

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the nonprofit behind the suicide hotline in the United States is changing its number to a more simple, easier to remember code: 988

The change will be in effect in July of 2022. No information was provided on the exact date.

Many other countries have made similar changes already. The UK has shortened theirs to 116 123, Australia's to 131 114, and the Philippines, 2919.

Ajit Pai, the chairperson of the FCC told the Today show, "We want to make sure that they get the help they need, so they know they are loved." and that "I simply want the folks to know that the reason the FCC is doing this now is because we want the millions of Americans who have been struggling, who think there's a stigma associated with getting help, we want them to know that they are not alone, that 988 could be the lifeline,"

One person dies of suicide every 40 seconds, so to shorten the otherwise long phone number that you might have to look up to a simple three digit, easily memorized code in a situation where every second counts, is a good step to take for suicide prevention in the United States.

The change was initiated by The National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which former president Donald Trump signed into law in August 2018 and was suggested by FCC staff in August of 2019.

In this statement Ajit Pai explains that "There is a suicide epidemic in this country, and it is disproportionately affecting at-risk populations," specifically citing veterans, as well as LGBTQ youth.

Please inform everyone you know about this change. Even if it seems awkward or insensitive, it could save a life.