As our country continue grappling with its on-going mental health pandemic , a new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number—988 — is launching July 16 to endorse those struggling with self-destructive ideation .
988 is the new appellative for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ( which is also being rebranded as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ) . fit in toits website , the life line was launched in 2005 and is a web of 200 local crisis gist scattered across the United States . The line of life is useable 24/7 for those know an worked up crisis , and this new bit is modeled after the straight “ 911 . ” The simplicity of the number could streamline the mental process of reaching out for assistance , peculiarly after the service ’s original ( and longer ) bit saw increase public care over the retiring few years .
When rapper Logic free his song“1 - 800 - 273 - 8255″with Alessia Cara and Khalid in 2017 , it impress a chord with the American public : The song chart at bit 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 , and was put up for Song of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards . The headphone routine that makes up the birdsong ’s title is the original designation for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline , and after the song caught on , it broke down the stigma of reaching out for support during your drab present moment , and shew the need for the service by bringing the telephone number to the populace ’s attention — the lifeline see a50 % increasein call after Logic ’s emotional execution of “ 1 - 800″ at the2017 Video Music Awards . The uptick in consciousness helped those experiencing suicidal ideation get connected to an wheeler dealer , and switching to 988 could result in a similar effect .
The CDC reports that, in 2020, 12.2 million Americans seriously contemplated dying by suicide.Image: Pau Barrena (Getty Images)
988 was designate as the unexampled number for nationwide genial health support inJuly 2020by the Federal Communications Commission , and was ratify into legal philosophy inOctober 2020 . 988 commence its rollout tomorrow — the old 1 - 800 number willstill be available for use — but not every province is on board , as only 21 states have allocated funding to support the identification number according to theNational Academy for State Health Policy , andPolitico reportsthat federal health officials are concern that states may not be able to satisfy the need . That ’s a problem because America is suffer . Over45,000 Americansdied by suicide in 2020 according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says12.2 million Americansseriously mull over destruction by suicide that same year .
I have called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline twice in my life , and approachable and approachable resource like this are a part of the reason why those struggling with depression and suicidal ideation are capable to continue on . It ’s important to note that while this rebranded life line will not completely eradicate the nation ’s mental health crisis , it is a piece of a larger push to manage that crisis .
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