The Federal Communications Commission established a new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on Thursday that vulnerable youth, veterans, and those with disabilities or mental health issues can access by texting or calling 988, similar to those who call 911 for emergency purposes.
The commission voted on a bipartisan basis to create the new Lifeline program, which will create a national network providing free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
The program is required to be functional by July 26, 2022, and allow the public to reach the Lifeline by calling or texting the 988 number.
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“Suicide significantly impacts at-risk communities, including youth, the Black community, the LGBTQ+ community, Veterans, and the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and people who have speech disabilities that affect communication,” the commission said in a statement. “For individuals in crisis, text messaging can make it easier to contact a crisis counselor by allowing for a certain level of anonymity rather than engaging in a phone conversation.”
Quick and easy access to mental health and crisis counseling services has been an issue in the past few years, with limited access in some parts of the country.
In 2020, 44,834 individuals died by suicide in the United States, and the commission said the global pandemic has further exacerbated mental health struggles.
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During the transition to the 988 feature, anyone who requires help can still use the Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 and online chats, the commission said.
