The ubiquitous 911 emergency line we all know is about to gain a cousin: 988. The new three-digit dialing code, which rolls out nationwide on July 16, can be used to field calls about mental health, substance use, and suicide crises.
The shorter, more memorable alternative to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800.273.8255) came to fruition when Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in 2020. Local legislators in Olympia subsequently approved Washington’s own House Bill 1477 in 2021 to ensure a smooth rollout and develop supplemental funding. Right now, a $0.24 per month tax on phone and internet lines partially funds the service.
In a sense, not much is changing. Existing crisis lines,
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