Congress passed bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, designating ‘988’ as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act—bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema that designates the easy to remember phone number “988” as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
“Ensuring Arizonans have access to an easy to remember suicide hotline will save lives and help address the national mental health and suicide crises,” said Sinema.
Sinema is a cosponsor of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee last year and passed the full Senate in May. Sinema voted for and helped advance the bipartisan legislation out of the Senate Commerce Committee.
The bipartisan bill designates a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, including a Veterans Crisis Line for veteran-specific mental health support. The existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (reachable at 1-800-273-8255) answers over 2 million crises annually, but the new easy-to-remember 988 number will be able to save more lives. The bill also ensures the 988 number and call centers have the necessary resources.