Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,129
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 13, 2019 9:11:17 GMT -5
Should be up and running in eighteen months. Three-digit suicide prevention hotline - 988 - given green light in US
A free, three-digit suicide hotline is being set up for Americans after it was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday. When it becomes operational, the 988 dial-code will provide mental health support and ease pressure on the 911 line, which covers all emergencies. The hotline will reduce stigma and save lives, said FCC chairman Ajit Pai. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US and has increased by 33% in the past 20 years. The proposal for the suicide hotline, which was unanimously approved by all five members of the commission, requires telephone providers to implement the 988 dial code within 18 months. Mr Pai said: "988 has an echo of the 911 number we all know as an emergency number. We believe that this three-digit number dedicated for this purpose will help ease access to crisis services." Article here: Three-digit suicide prevention hotline - 988 - given green light in US
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Deleted
Joined: Mar 29, 2024 4:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2019 14:43:35 GMT -5
Having friends who have lost children to suicide, this can only be a good thing.
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buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
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Post by buystoys on Dec 14, 2019 9:10:18 GMT -5
I truly hope the new number helps people. Suicide is a sad finality to problems.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 21:04:44 GMT -5
Posts: 13,708
Mini-Profile Name Color: 1980e6
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Dec 15, 2019 12:32:09 GMT -5
I'm so glad about this. As a professional who works with teenagers, this is so much easier than trying to find the current number. I do have it saved in my phone, and we do have business cards with it printed on there. It's still a long number though; this is a great solution.
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