“Today we are thankful to the Federal Communications Commission for their recognition that now is the time for a nationwide three-digit phone line for mental health and suicide prevention,” said Becky Stoll, LCSW, American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Crisis Center Division Chair, and Vice President, Crisis & Disaster Management at Centerstone. “We’re incredibly grateful and supportive of the work and effort they’ve made in making this hotline a reality. In a time when suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, our country desperately needs this resource and FCC is taking the correct actions to make this happen.”

AAS applauds the FCC for its work and recommendations to proceed with the unique, 988 three-digit telephone code for mental health and suicide prevention services. It is now time to ensure these services are properly standardized and funded at the scale of the problem. Nearly 7 million people are directly affected by suicide every year, with almost 1.5 million people attempting suicide in that same timeframe. These are rates that require solid infrastructure to adequately and compassionately address the demand.