By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
When phone numbers were first established in the late 1880s, they were just a series of three numbers. As the population grew, the number system expanded to seven digits locally with a three-digit area code for long distance.
Starting Oct. 24, in many areas of Michigan, it will not matter if you are making a local or long distance phone call, you will be required to dial 10-digits — one plus the area code plus the number.
The reason? The Federal Communications Commission has designated 988 as the abbreviated dialing code that can be used to reach the suicide prevention hotline. Officials expect the 988 dialing code to be active by July of 2022.
“In many area codes across the country, 988 is already used as a prefix, or first three digits after the area code of customer telephone numbers,” the Michigan Public Service Commission announced in a press release earlier this year. “In order for 988 to dial directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, any area code that includes 988 prefix must transition from seven-digit dialing (dialing without the area code) to 10-digit dialing (1 plus the area code with the telephone number.”
Residents with the 616, 810, 906, and 989 area codes will have to make the switch to 10-digits for all local calls. As of Oct. 24, if a resident with that area code dials with only seven digits, the call may not be completed and a recording may inform the caller that the call cannot be completed as dialed. The caller will have to hangup and redial the 10-digit number.
Phone numbers will not change, residents only need to add the area code to the existing number. It is recommended that residents check contacts to make sure that the complete 10-digit number is stored in their devices. It is also recommend that businesses review devices that rely on numbers to assure all contacts’ 10-digit numbers have been stored.
Other three-digit numbers such as 911 for emergency and 221 for community services will not be impacted.
The new 988 number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline goes into effect on July 16, 2022. Until then, residents can cal the hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK). Veterans and Service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, chatting online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or texting 838255.
According to the FFC, since 2008, suicide has ranked as the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide claimed the lives of more than 48,000 Americans in 2018, resulting in about one death every 11 minutes. An FCC staff report to Congress in 2019 proposed establishing 988 as an easy to remember three-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Staff analyzed various options and determined 988 was the best option for increasing access to crisis resources and ensuring the fastest possible transition. Establishing the easy-to-remember 988 as the “911” for suicide prevention and mental health services will make it easier for Americans in crisis to access the help they need and decrease the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues, state FCC officials in a release about the new three-digit number.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of approximately 170 crisis centers. The centers are supported by local and state, and public and private sources, as well as by Congressional appropriations through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
At this point, it is probably a good idea for residents start using 10-digit numbers as some areas in the country have been forced to add second area codes due to running out of phone numbers. The FCC estimates there are more people than phone numbers.
