New 988 Suicide Hotline Offers Shortcut in Crisis
On July 16, 2022, the new 988 suicide hotline marked its debut. Instead of having to call the former 10-digit number, those struggling with thoughts of suicide, or calling on behalf of a suicidal person, can simply call 988 to be connected to a counselor. (The 10-digit line still works, too.)
As reported by The New York Times, counselors are trained to provide guidance to those having trouble with substance abuse, mental health conditions, and suicidal ideation. Anyone who calls will benefit from the same kind of confidentiality they would receive at a doctor’s office.