FCC plans 3-digit suicide prevention hotline

Seeking emergency mental health assistance could soon be as simple as dialing 988, federal regulators announced Thursday.

The Federal Communications Commission formally began the process Thursday to designate 988 as a nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.

"The three-digit number is really going to be a breakthrough in terms of reaching people in a crisis," Dwight Holton, CEO of suicide prevention nonprofit Lines for Life, told USA Today. "No one is embarrassed to call 911 for a fire or an emergency. No one should be embarrassed to call 988 for a mental health emergency."

According to The Wall Street Journal, the new hotline is intended to simplify access to services available currently by dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the existing National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Once operational, dialing 988 would connect callers to the existing hotline and then route them to nearby crisis centers equipped to provide assistance.

"We believe this historical and critical effort will turn the tide on reducing suicides and promote mental wellness in the United States," said a statement from Kimberly Williams, chief executive of Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit that administers the lifeline, The Journal reported.