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Government United States

988 Will Be the New 911 For Suicide Prevention (arstechnica.com) 66

Posted by BeauHD from the easier-to-remember dept.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Federal Communications Commission plans to designate 988 as the short dialing code for the United States' suicide-prevention hotline. Much like 911 for general emergencies, 988 could be dialed by anyone undergoing a mental health crisis and/or considering suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can already be reached at 1-800-273-8255 (or 1-800-273-TALK), but the FCC today gave preliminary approval to a plan that would make 988 redirect to that hotline. The commission's unanimous vote approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks public comment on the plan.

Once the NPRM is published in the Federal Register, there will be a 60-day period for taking public comments, and the FCC would finalize the plan after considering the public input. It could take another 18 months after that to implement 988 nationwide, depending on what requirements the FCC imposes on phone providers. [...] The proposal would require all telecommunications carriers and interconnected VoIP providers to support 988 on their networks within 18 months, the FCC said. But the FCC noted that it is "seek[ing] comment on all aspects of implementation, including whether a longer or shorter timeframe would be needed to make 988 a reality." Based on the comment-period length and proposed implementation time frame, 988 would be implemented nationwide sometime in late 2021.
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988 Will Be the New 911 For Suicide Prevention More

988 Will Be the New 911 For Suicide Prevention

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  • If you Dial M for Murder (Score:4, Funny)

    by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 ) on Thursday December 12, 2019 @05:39PM (#59514062)
    Shouldn't you dial S for suicide?

  • Confusion (Score:4, Funny)

    by dpille ( 547949 ) on Thursday December 12, 2019 @05:43PM (#59514078)
    Won't this just confuse people? Which number should I dial if I'm trying to stop a murder-suicide?

    • 912

    • It's good to have a clear number for this sort of thing. Over here, we have have the "113 suicide prevention hotline" (112 being the Dutch equivalent of 911). Except... 113 isn't their actual phone number, it's 0900-0113. There's a handful of known cases where someone tried to dial 113 a couple of times before killing themselves. At least 113 will be forwarded to the right people at some point in the future...
      • """113 suicide prevention hotline" (112 being the Dutch equivalent of 911). Except... 113 isn't their actual phone number, it's 0900-0113. "" This has to be a sick joke or a malicious act by the people who set up the system. "Oh we won't tell you all of the digits of the phone number, but instead chant 'Dial 113-It's so EZ!'. Please don't kill yourself while you are feeling hopeless and think we just played a cruel joke on you. Toodles!". Fucking bastards. It's shit like this that makes me hope there reall

  • Is it confidential or just "confidential"? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by spikenerd ( 642677 ) on Thursday December 12, 2019 @06:00PM (#59514136)
    Will they look up your phone number? Will they push a button that tells your phone to send them your GPS location? Will they send someone to stop you, add you to a list of people who cannot buy weapons, and track you for the next decade?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dissy ( 172727 )

      Will they look up your phone number?

      It's a 1-800 toll free number, so yes, they get your caller ID, and your ANI, which is the phone companies listed billing number for your account, and details on the account class you are calling from (landline, prepaid, cell, topup-cards) and the registered zip code.

      Toll free numbers have always gotten that info for billing purposes, since they are charged for your call.
      Toll numbers do too, since they need to know you are billable by your phone account before accepting the call.

      Will they push a button that tells your phone to send them your GPS location?

      That is the E911 protocol, a

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by rtb61 ( 674572 )

        When people become more afraid of life than death, why should they continue to suffer, I would provide a link https://exitinternational.net/... [exitinternational.net] and tell them to make it choice, either live with it or die with it, freedom, your choice.

  • Or I'm the only one thinking about Porsche Model #s?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Straif ( 172656 )

      I was seriously wondering what type of additions Porsche made that could prevent suicide? A speed governor that won't let you get above 25? Super collusion avoidance that won't let you move if it detects any object within 100 yards? An in-cabin sensor for carbon monoxide that will auto shutoff the engine?

      • An in-cabin sensor for carbon monoxide that will auto shutoff the engine?

        The catalytic converter and modern engine electronics do a fairly good job of preventing suicide by automobile. The catalytic converter removes nearly all the CO from the exhaust, of which very little is produced in the first place because of sensors and electronics on the engine. This means that instead of a blissful drifting off to their last nap people have their natural CO2 detection triggered and they are made painfully aware of oxygen deprivation. I will emphasize "painfully". This will certainly

        • I mean, there could be a 996 # where a mass of sunny side up eggs eject from the phone and pin you to the wall preventing suicide.

          That would be more pleasant than anxiety inducing CO2 poisoning.

    • Or I'm the only one thinking about Porsche Model #s?

      Not any more, now you have me thinking of other Porsche model numbers they could use instead.

  • I doubt very many people call this number anyway...if they're serious about doing it, they're not going to have someone try to talk them out of it. I assume we're going to see more and more suicides as time goes by and more jobs get eliminated by automation. Losing a steady, comfortable job is a huge blow, especially when there's no prospect of getting another. I think it's perfectly OK for people to decide they don't want to live anymore...why force someone to be miserable?

    One problem is that mental illnes

    • Re:What does that get you though? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 ) <slashdot.worf@net> on Thursday December 12, 2019 @06:45PM (#59514280)

      I doubt very many people call this number anyway...if they're serious about doing it, they're not going to have someone try to talk them out of it. I assume we're going to see more and more suicides as time goes by and more jobs get eliminated by automation. Losing a steady, comfortable job is a huge blow, especially when there's no prospect of getting another. I think it's perfectly OK for people to decide they don't want to live anymore...why force someone to be miserable?

      One problem is that mental illness is stigmatized so much that most people are afraid to ask for help. Any police or medical involvement is going to get you labeled crazy. Plus, there's no treatment available even if you were. States have closed mental hospitals starting in the 70s...now there are so few beds that you have to be a real danger to others to get committed.

      There are plenty of people who aren't committed, that's the point. They're contemplating suicide. If you're convinced that killing yourself is the only way to go, then you'd have done it by now.

      But most people aren't. Even the ones that are just about to go, often stop (think about those who jump off bridges or buildings - they don't do a running leap off the railing, they often contemplate their action).

      So having someone to talk to is still useful. And sometimes it feels like suicide is the only way out, but that's just because one is involved in so much grief that they can't think clearly. Most thoughts on suicide are merely temporary anyways and go away.

      That's why the phone lines exist - you'll find most people are hesitant in following through, so you can still get them before it's too late. And for the mentally ill it may be one of the few times they can talk to someone in private.

      Who knows what the real numbers are - most teenagers would probably have contemplated suicide at least once, but somehow never followed through, while others get lost in deepening thoughts. It's also often a cry for help, so having help a phone call away could stave off the next mass shooting, or at least spare a family the grief of having to deal with someone who offed themselves.

      The terrible part is being the person on the other end of the line who has to console someone who may be too far gone and being the last person to actually hear that person speak and knowing that you couldn't stop them.

      Remember, people are social creatures - even the most introverted still likes the company of others and spending time with friends, or just talking things through.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Being convinced that you want to die is very different from being able to actually do it. There is a strong natural survival instinct, and strong cultural norm of trying to live no matter what. Actually doing it can be very hard, especially if the method chosen isn't instant.

        People like to think they could do it, that they have the will to. It's comforting in a way, knowing you can check out. But when the time comes it's not that easy.

      • There are plenty of people who aren't committed, that's the point. They're contemplating suicide.

        Really??? Things are that bad that you'd do that? Things are NEVER EVER that bad unless you're in a concentration camp. And even then, when you go, try to take some of the bastards with you. What are they going to do, KILL you??

        That's maybe the only "nice"(?!!?) thing about the Nazis and the gas chambers -- until the last few seconds they literally didn't know what was coming. They were betrayed and killed, not tortured.

        And 988 is the new suicide-prevention hotline, and not 666 as the suicide-assi

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by nmb3000 ( 741169 )

          What a load of horse shit. You have an astonishing lack of empathy.

          Suicide is almost always an inherently irrational action. Expecting rational behavior from someone on the verge of suicide just shows you don't have any idea what you're talking about.

    • Longer life expectancy may also contribute. Medicine is great at keeping people alive, but it's also extended the 'old and miserable' stage at the end. Live long enough and you'll eventually realize dementia is coming and what little time left you will be rambling, bedridden, and unable to wipe your own arse without help. I wonder how many people will decide to skip over that bit?

  • The number is actually 0118 999 881 999 119 7253 [youtu.be].

  • 976 is still the prefix for your mom.

  • "Hi, I'm about to jump off a bridge."

    "Sir, you have to call 9-8-8 for a suicide call."

    "AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! (splash)"

    "I guess he hung up." ....

    "Is this 9-1-1?"

    "Yes. What's wrong."

    "My life is over."

    "Sorry, we can't help you."

    "(explosion)"

    "Oh, now we can help clean up the mess."

  • I'm sure 911 operators will still have to deal with a good number of calls as people in crisis are not going to pick this up quicly.

    • I'm sure 911 operators will still have to deal with a good number of calls as people in crisis are not going to pick this up quicly.

      Train the 911 operators on this number then...

      That way they know what number to dial at the end of their shift.

  • Credit card number? (Score:3, Funny)

    by aberglas ( 991072 ) on Thursday December 12, 2019 @07:32PM (#59514404)

    >"Hello, this is the American suicide prevention line, we're here to help. But first, please tell us your health insurance number and credit card number so that we can assist you properly."

    "Thank you for calling the American suicide prevention line, goodbye."

  • Hello, Suicide Prevention Hotline?
    I'd like to place a to go order.

  • will be Bach's Goldberg variations, BWV 988 .

  • Porsche renews the model 911 to a 988 model that you can't use ti kill yourself with?
    Cool.

  • ...to get 789 as the "overeating crisis hotline".

  • They should have made it 999. People who speak German will get it.

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