988 Will Be the New 911 For Suicide Prevention (arstechnica.com) 66
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.
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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Recorded message will simply say - "nevermind, just do it. this is a recording because we've all offed ourselves as well"
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(ASCII art deleted)
Hey -- asshole editors -- if you're going to allow this shit to persist, then fucking give us back proper AC.
And if not.. shut down slashdot. You've fucking ruined it since you took it over.
Fuck off, you god-damned Arab cocksuckers.
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I am considering suicide because I see no future in a country that lets in anyone across the border increasing crime, replacing the population, and making it unsafe for everyone meanwhile unelected politicians get millions in payments of taxpayers' money to keep this going because they can? Would they take me seriously then, or would they laugh it off?
Since when is telling Truth a Troll?
His post was Offtopic, maybe, but not Troll. Everything he said is happening, and denying it and shouting down those who call it out as trolls or worse is going to backfire on you one day.
Jerome Powell was right. McCarthy was right. And to some degree LBJ and Nixon were right. They all smelled a rat in the kitchen, and people made them out to be monsters for it.
But there are rats in the kitchen, and it's hit critical mass already.
Troll me away.
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Jerome Powell was right.
God damn it. Lewis Powell.
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I'd encourage you as such weakness is unworthy of survival and your perceptions of the situation are absurd. Everyone dies and early departure of the weak and crazy improves the overall signal to noise ratio in society.
Sometimes a pussy is just a pussy. KYS and your pain will be over. That goes double for anyone weak enough to be offended by my suggestion. Harden the fuck up or off thyself.
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If you Dial M for Murder (Score:4, Funny)
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Perfect. 777 seems to be unassigned.
777 (Score:2)
"Perfect. 777 seems to be unassigned."
I only associate one 777 with suicide - MH370
MH17 was due to a trigger happy Russian-Ukrainian
Confusion (Score:4, Funny)
912 (Score:3)
912
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0118 999 881 999 119 725 3 (Score:1)
simple
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Re: Confusion (Score:2)
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40. Dialing in Certain Geographic Areas. We next seek comment on how to address areas that both use 7-digit dialing and where 988 is in use as an NXX code. In such areas, a switch would need to distinguish between calls made to the suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline and the assigned 988 central office code. Commission staff analysis of NANPA data shows that as of September 2019, there are 95 area codes that both still use 7-digit dialing and have assigned 988 as an NXX prefix.143 We seek comment on whether this is an accurate estimate of area codes that would need to implement a solution. 41. One solution is the introduction of a dialing delay after 988 is entered—the switch would recognize that the caller is dialing 988 rather than a local 988-XXXX number when no digits are entered after 988. The downside with such an approach, as the NANC has noted, is that such a dialing delay “could result in the caller terminating the call because he thinks the call failed, or [result in] unrelated calls being routed to the hotline when a 7-digit number is dialed too slowly.”14
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I was kinda wondering how it would deal with people fat-fingering area codes that were one digit off, like 978 outside Boston. Looking for a delay would probably fix that, too.
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988 will cause a huge number of pocket dialing. Australia uses 000 and has something like 100 times the number of false calls as 911 tends to get.
If they are going to brake the entire dial plan, do it right and allow 7, 10 and 15 digit dialing. 15 digit dialing would allow so many new features (including breaking scamers), it might keep the phone system alive.
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This is just late term abortion but the person gets the chance to Decide themselves.
Back in the early 80's, the alternative music crowd (punk, wave) used to sing about folks like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker as needing a Retroactive Abortion.
Although, it wasn't intended to be their choice.
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Is it confidential or just "confidential"? (Score:4, Insightful)
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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
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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.
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"The USA is seeing a lowering in life expectancy for the first time ever because of suicides." no it isn't. It's from a lot of causes: opioids, unhealthy lifestyle choices, lack of medical insurance, etc.
Great, just what the world needs, a new Porsche. (Score:1)
Or I'm the only one thinking about Porsche Model #s?
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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?
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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
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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.
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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.
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As long as it's a Turbo with ... BATTERIES..
What does that get you though? (Score:2)
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)
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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?
Obligatory IT Crowd (Score:2)
The number is actually 0118 999 881 999 119 7253 [youtu.be].
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Actually
0118 999 881 999 119 725 3
The space before the 3 was critical.
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in other news, (Score:2)
976 is still the prefix for your mom.
Hello, 9-1-1? (Score:2)
"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."
Seems like a good idea, but... (Score:2)
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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)
>"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."
Hilary (Score:1)
Hello, Suicide Prevention Hotline?
I'd like to place a to go order.
Recording calls? Hopefully not (Score:2)
Opinion: The last thing anyone needs to hear when calling a suicide hotline is ‘your call may be recorded’ [latimes.com]
And the music you will hear while on hold (Score:2)
will be Bach's Goldberg variations, BWV 988 .
Wot? (Score:2)
Porsche renews the model 911 to a 988 model that you can't use ti kill yourself with?
Cool.
"US" = "word"? (Score:2)
They need to hurry (Score:2)
...to get 789 as the "overeating crisis hotline".
Seems like a missed opportunity... (Score:2)