Photo: Morgan Kubaso | Cronkite News
The US’s 988 crisis hotline went live nationwide two years ago, replacing a hard-to-remember 800 number so that people considering suicide could more easily reach out for help. But unlike 911 calls, which go to the nearest dispatch center, calls to 988 are connected to a center in the caller’s area code. With 80% of those calls coming from cell phones, people in crisis often end up speaking with a volunteer or counselor thousands of miles away who has no way to send help. Since this can be a trust-breaker, a fix is in the works. New rules will require wireless companies to route 988 calls to the crisis center closest to where a caller actually is, enabling a faster connection to local resources. The wireless industry is on board and so are nonprofits involved in the 988 system and advocacy groups.
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