Lawmakers Push To Create a Three-Digit Suicide Hotline Number (techcrunch.com)

In a letter addressed to the FCC, Senator Ron Wyden urged commissioners to create a three-digit, 911-style suicide hotline number. The Oregon senator cites the CDC's report that more than 40,000 Americans died by suicide in 2017. From a report: "I write on behalf of those struggling with mental health issues, our veterans struggling with PTSD and for those impacted by the tragedy of suicide," Wyden writes. "I urge you to designate a 3-digit code as a Behavioral Health and Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Thank you for your consideration."

While The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched an 800 line in 2004, many believe the number is too long and cumbersome for those reaching out in their time of need. The letter floats the idea of using 611. The call echoes a similar push last week by Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Chris Stewart to designate the number, which is currently used to report phone service problems by some U.S. and Canadian carriers.

Comments

This again?

[GoRK]

911 will already transfer callers to suicide intervention, plus they can handle all of the related emergencies that require additional immediate support: for instance "I've just eaten a bunch of random pills" Every mental health professional in the US already has "If this is an emergency hang up and dial 911" on their voicemail.

There is really no need to go through the expense and other regulatory nonsense necessary to establish a new special emergency dialing number for just because you are a senator. This is the same nonsense that brought us the spectacular failure that is the "Amber Alert"

Yes, it's important. But so long as you have a million different 501c3's vying for dollars to "raise awareness" and promote their own competing solutions the problem is effectively gridlocked. We already have a national emergency line that routes you to a person trained to assist with any emergency. Please use it.

Re:911?

[Obfuscant]

If someone suicidal has managed to reach out, you don't want them hanging up because the respondent isn't trained to deal with them.

You have no idea what training 911 call center operators get, do you? They do a lot more than just dispatch cops. They are routinely credited with talking a panicky caller through dealing with an emergency situation. Dealing with suicide threats is just one of those emergency situations. (At the end of term I hear regular radio traffic dealing with such things.)

but if that's all they're going to do, may as well go directly to the experts.

That's not all they're going to do. If the caller needs medical attention they'll get it headed there. If the caller needs police action, they'll get that going, too. (E.g., Joe calls up saying he's suicidal and has a gun. Police go first to clear the area, then meds go in to deal with Joe.)

And, of course, centralizing emergency response in ONE number means you don't have to remember more than one. Plus you don't need to change an entire system built on the premise that the number being suggested is how you get help with phone service, not with suicides.

Imagine the fun and wasted time and money and interference with a true emergency when someone trying to find out why he was billed for something he doesn't think he should have been keeps calling the suicide hotline.