Lifesaving lifeline

Jot down this date: July 16, 2022. 

In just under a month, the new nationwide easy access number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline will change, and will be convenient for anyone in need. The number is 988.

Just those numbers will connect people in distress with trained counselors and they help people need.

According to the people at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 service will:

• Connect a person in a mental health crisis to a trained counselor who can address their immediate needs and help connect them to ongoing care
• Reduce health care spending with more cost-effective early intervention
• Reduce use of law enforcement, public health, and other safety resources
• Meet the growing need for crisis intervention at scale
• Help end stigma toward those seeking or accessing mental healthcare

The mental health community has been working for this for many years. The current number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is fairly easy to remember and dial, but nothing beats a three-digit number in an emergency. Just ask 911. 

So, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act has been the law of our land since 2020 and it requires all telephone providers to connect people dialing 988 to the Lifeline as of July 16.

There's no need to mention that suicide is a major problem. Worldwide, over  700,000 people take their own lives every year.

And for every one of those sad cases, there are many more who attempt it.  A prior attempt is viewed as the single most important risk factor for another attempt.

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year-olds.

I greatly dislike sharing this sort of information, but then again I am proud to be able to. It makes me sad that is has to be done, and I'm sure tomorrow I will write about a guy who made a lifesized likeness of Mike Pence out of some discarded library paste, but I am asking that you share this number with your teenaged loved ones, and with all people. 

You never know. Spread the word, please.