Senate votes to create an easy-to-remember hotline for mental health resources
Bill designates 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and Veteran Crisis Line.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate yesterday passed The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S. 2661), which will designate the 3-digit dialing code “988” as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and Veterans Crisis Line. The following statement should be attributed to Robert Fisher, Verizon Senior Vice President, Federal Government Affairs:
"Verizon welcomes this Senate vote to make mental health crisis help more easily available to people who need it. America lost more than 48,000 people to suicide in 2018. This issue affects far too many American families and especially veterans, and it’s preventable. This new, easily remembered number, “988” will make crucial mental health resources and support available in times of crisis, when it matters most. This bill will save lives. We commend Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for their leadership on this effort, and look forward to doing our part to implement this new service as quickly as possible."