John Madigan, senior vice president and director of public policy for the American Federation of Suicide Prevention, says he and his organization are waiting anxiously for the FCC to put the new 3-digit hotline into play.
"We are over the moon," he said.
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The current hotline is 10 digits long, while the new one would be easy — 988.
"We think it's much like 911 was instituted a couple generations ago. I think it's critical that anyone in suicidal ideation has immediate access to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline," Madigan added.
Madigan says suicide is now the second leading cause of death in people from the age of 10 to 34. In addition to instituting the new suicide prevention hotline, the AFSP supports legislation in the U.S. House and Senate that would allow states to collect fees for 988 just like they do for the 911 system.