Wed Sep 25 09:00:20 UTC 2024: ## 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Gets a Boost with New Location-Based Routing
**Washington, D.C. -** The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday that major cell phone carriers are adopting a new technology that will improve the efficiency of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This “georouting” system will direct callers to local crisis centers based on their physical location, rather than their phone number’s area code, ensuring faster access to community resources.
This change, led by Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, marks a significant improvement to the lifeline, which has already fielded over 10 million calls, texts, and chats since its launch in July 2022. Previously, callers were routed to centers based on their area code, meaning someone in Los Angeles with a New York number might have been connected to a crisis center in New York.
“The goal of 988 is to help people in a mental health or substance use crisis get 24/7 access to compassionate, nonjudgmental help,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, HHS Assistant Secretary and leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Connecting callers to local centers that can share information about their community’s services and resources helps to elevate that quality of care.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote next month on a rule that would require all wireless carriers in the US to implement georouting for 988 calls. If adopted, nationwide providers will have 30 days to comply, while smaller providers will have two years.
“In times of crisis, every minute matters,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Georouting means those responding to 988 calls have a lot more knowledge of local resources at their fingertips and are better equipped to get the caller the help they need, where they need it.”
This development comes as the US faces a mental health crisis, with the suicide rate reaching a record high in 2022. The 988 Lifeline offers free emotional support and connects callers to local resources, including special lines for veterans and LGBTQ+ youth.
The georouting system does not share the caller’s exact location but uses aggregated information to ensure privacy while directing them to local support. “No more 988 calls and messages will be needlessly sent to crisis centers hundreds of miles away,” said Rosenworcel. “I’m really pleased to say we’re making this life saving resource even better.”
First Piper 