A Call For Help: Changing the number of the suicide hotline from 1-800-273-8255 to 988 and the psychology behind the switch

President Joe Biden and the Department of Health and Human Services are transitioning the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number from 1-800-273-8255 to 988 this July to make mental health services more accessible.

Currently, those who dial the 11-digit number will be directed to a local suicide prevention hotline to receive on-the-spot assistance. The purpose of this 24/7 lifeline, is to provide free support to those who are struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. In 2020 alone, the hotline received nearly 2.4 million calls, according to KVC Health Systems.

“Having the current hotline is always a great go to, but definitely switching it to a three-digit code makes it a lot more accessible to people and less intimidating,” senior and Sources of Strength leader Grace Kloster said.

The idea for a three-digit dialing code was proposed to the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act in 2017. However, the process for changing the hotline number has taken years because the Federal Communications Commission wants the transition to the new 988 number to be smooth, ensuring the network of crisis centers are ready to handle the increase in calls that they expect with change. The HHS is donating nearly $280 million dollars to help with this process.

In 2019, the FCC recommended the switch to 988 and the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act became an official national law in 2020. Then, the FCC voted to implement this number in 2022.

The change to a three-digit number will grant quicker access to life saving services. Although people will reach the same service no matter which line they call, the idea is that 988 will be an easier access point, according to the HHS.

Individual and family therapist at Kansas City Psychiatric Group Dr. Mike Hanson believes the hotline is a great resource for those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts, but the accessibility and ease needs to be improved. He explains that a change to 988 would promote a more easily recognized and memorable source of help. Even people established in the mental health field don’t know the suicide hotline number, according to Hanson.

“I don’t know [the number] off the top of my head,” Hanson said. “I don’t know the regular suicide national hotline. I couldn’t tell you what it is right now.”

According to Washington D.C. clinical psychologist Matthew Knauer, those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts often don’t want to take the steps needed to get help and believes the new hotline will encourage people to reach out.

“You want to reduce as many barriers to somebody getting help as you possibly can,” Knauer said. “One of the things that depression does is really sort of saps you of energy and motivation.”

Sophomore Nora Hill agrees that in moments of intense emotion, details can easily slip the mind. She thinks that during the rush of emotions that people feel when experiencing suicidal thoughts, people can hardly complete simple tasks, much less reach out for help.

“Having to write out words and look stuff up and even unlock your phone is kind of difficult in those times,” Hill said. “Turning it to something more like 911 that you can just dial real fast, will make it so much easier for people in those [situations].”

Another barrier to getting help is drug use and alcoholism that results from depression, according to Hanson. He believes that those who are feeling suicidal and are under the influence will often not remember to call the hotline. He thinks a three-digit hotline number would be a positive way to help the matter.

“If someone is desperate or impulsive, [remembering it] makes it easier for that person to reach out for help,” said Hanson.

According to KVC Health Systems, the transition will also ensure more mental health calls go to the lifeline, instead of 911. The lifeline centers have advanced their training, making them much more qualified to handle mental health situations than 911 dispatchers, according to Hanson.

“It’s okay to ask for help,” Kloster said. “Just like 911 was made to ask for help, 988 has the same purpose. Not that the [11-digit] number didn’t, but it is saying, ‘Hey, we’re here and we’re supposed to be a resource,’ and it encourages people to actually take advantage of it.”