Starting July 16, the FCC will establish 988 as an easy-to-remember three-digit dialing code for suicide prevention & mental health crises. This will be mandated for EVERY STATE.
Slide through ➡️ to find out the simple reasons why this is so huge!
It’s true that in some states, questions remain around funding the transition, staffing call centers, & having response teams ready.
But…SAMHSA has awarded nearly $105 million in grants to states & territories for the transition to 988 & to support call centers. And – last yr, SAMHSA also announced $177 million to support strengthening & expanding the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network operations & infrastructure.
Listen, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 10 to 34. NONE of us know how ready all the states are for the phone tree “monster” that this project entails…for the training that this entails.
That said, please read through the slides. I’m not saying that this new number is going to save everyone. But…if the goal is to normalize this topic & make it part of our everyday conversation…988 being TAUGHT & easy to remember, off the heels of 911, makes these “other” types of emergencies (MH emergencies) a normalized conversation that we know can affect anyone. THAT in & of itself, will save lives.
Slide to the end for how the L.I.F.E. Saver tool will incorporate this new number come July 16th.
