In 2020, Congress designated 988 to become the national dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and to be phased into use as soon as possible. The current National Suicide 10-digit number is 800-273-8255.

On July 16, 2022, the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became activated. Nationally, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), coordinated this 988-rollout shortening the Lifeline contact number to only 3-digits - in the same way, 9-1-1 was shortened. This helped to codified the more general emergency services number nationwide more than 40 years ago.

Effective now, both the 988 and the 800- numbers will get callers to the same helpers. The 800-number will continue to function in the short-run and until the 988-number proves to work nationally as planned. If LPCANC members are sharing the 800-number for emergency mental health services currently, you may wish to give the 988-number a few days/weeks to insure it is working as planned before switching to the 988 access.