The FCC has voted to expand access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network that provides confidential and free assistance to individuals undergoing suicidal crisis or emotional distress. In an effort to provide better support to at-risk communities in crisis, including individuals with disabilities and youth, the FCC has established the ability to text 988 to reach the Lifeline and has declared July 16, 2022 to be a uniform deadline that requires covered text providers to support text messages to 988. Covered text providers will be required to route text messages sent to 988 to the Lifeline’s 10-digit number, 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).
