FCC Approves 988 as Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Crisis Number:
Yesterday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved [(pdf)] 988 as a nationwide, three-digit phone number that people in crisis can call to speak with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. All phone service providers are required to direct all 988 calls to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) by July 16, 2022. This includes all telecommunications carriers and interconnected and one-way Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will remain operational during and after the two-year transition to 988.
During the transition to 988, Americans who need help should continue to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK) and through online chats. Veterans and service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, chatting online at http://www.veteranscrisisline.net, or texting 838255. A transcript of the vote is posted here.
Activation of new 988 number will take a while. In the meantime, try calling "911" or:
Active and former US service members can:
If nothing else, talk to somebody. It's really important to remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary situation. Help is available; ask for it and don't give up.
NOTE: The above are US-centric. For those who are aware of resources in other countries, please mention them in the comments.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 22 2020, @11:06PM (4 children)
Hello, I would like to place another order. Metropolitan Detention Center, not the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Thank you very much.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 23 2020, @12:19PM
No problem Mrs Clinton, this time it'll be death by self-garroting with a paper jumpsuit.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 23 2020, @02:55PM (2 children)
Don't joke about suicide in detention centers.
It happened to Jeffrey Epstein.
It could happen to Ghislaine Maxwell. She might obtain a firearm and shoot herself in the head three times.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday July 23 2020, @04:27PM (1 child)
Oh yeah, she's about to get suicided real good!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 23 2020, @05:04PM
While I suppose, that is theoretically possible, I would not want to suggest that. I was merely speculating that she might do this on her own. Just as Jerry Epstein did.
Trump's "I wish her well" was intended to encourage her not to go through with it.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.