The FCC recently adopted rules to establish the 3-digit telephone number “988” to serve as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Beginning July 16, 2022, callers in mental health crisis will be routed to trained counselors when dialing 988.
Eighty-two area codes in 36 states use 988 as a central office code (i.e. Watersmeet’s 358 prefix), Michigan’s 906 area code is included on this list. To ensure that all calls to 988 reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, providers in these affected areas are required to mandate 10-digit dialing across the network. This means callers will be required to input both the area code and telephone number to connect, even when making local calls.
Beginning October 24, 2021, consumers must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only 7 digits may not be completed, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. Consumers must hang up and dial again using the area code and the 7-digit number.
Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing “988” will route calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
For more information visit the FCC Suicide Prevention Hotline page.