WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT CHAIRMAN PAI’S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH 988 AS THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE NUMBER Senator Cory Gardner (CO):  “Today the Federal Communications Commission took an important step in our efforts to establish 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention hotline. … I applaud the FCC’s action, and I will continue working with my colleagues to establish the 9-8-8 suicide hotline and ensure critical mental health support is three buttons away.” Rep. Chris Stewart (UT): “This is a proud moment for every American. The FCC is announcing they are ready to begin the formal process to designate 9-8-8 as the new 3 digit code for the national suicide hotline. Thank you @AjitPaiFCC for your leadership.” (Tweet, 11/19/19) Rep. Seth Moulton (MA): “If your house is on fire, you don’t have to look up the fire department’s number. You just dial 911. It should be just as easy for mental health emergencies. … I’m excited the @FCC can help pave the way forward tomorrow!” (Tweet, 12/11/19) Rep. Tim Ryan (OH): “As proven with 9-1-1, a three-digit number is easier to remember and quicker to dial. While we still have more work to do in providing mental health treatment for every American, I want thank the FCC for introducing this life-saving proposal and moving us in the right direction.” (Press Release, 11/20/19) Rep. Susan Wild (PA): “All emergency services should be easily accessible. I’m happy to see the @FCC taking the issue of mental health and suicide prevention seriously. We can save so many lives by simplifying the access to this lifeline in the moments that matter most.” (Tweet, 11/22/19) Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA): “This is good news! … We lose too many lives in this country to suicide, and we must work on a bipartisan basis to try to end this crisis.” (Tweet, 11/19/19) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs: “And props to @AjitPaiFCC and the @FCC for recently moving forward with a three digit suicide prevention and mental health services hotline, 988.” (Tweet, 11/28/19) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “We believe that more lives will be saved as a result of potential implementation of this 988 number. In 2018, lifeline crisis centers answered 2.2M calls. In many ways, these centers serve as the nation’s mental health safety net.” (Tweet, 11/19/19) Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: “The 988 expansion directly addresses the need for ease of access and clarity in times of crisis, both for Veterans and non-Veterans alike. By providing a universal, unique 3 digit dialing code, it also gives the VA an opportunity to work in greater collaboration with the suicide prevention community across the United States and opens the door to engage new individuals in life-saving care.” (Statement, 12/11/19) American Association of Suicidology: “Today we are thankful to the Federal Communications Commission for their recognition that now is the time for a nationwide three-digit phone line for mental health and suicide prevention. We’re incredibly grateful and supportive of the work and effort they’ve made in making this hotline a reality. In a time when suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, our country desperately needs this resource and FCC is taking the correct actions to make this happen.” (Statement, 12/10/19) Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness: “ABHW supports the @FCC proposal to create 9-8-8 as the three-digit number as a national suicide prevention hotline and increase access to #mentalhealth care.” (Tweet, 12/11/19) Centerstone: “We applaud the Federal Communications Commission and Chairman Ajit Pai for their on-going leadership to designate 988 as a national three-digit phone line for suicide prevention and mental health crisis response. … A dedicated three-digit number for those experiencing a mental health crisis would be a landmark step for the field of mental health; making it easier to support those in emotional pain and begin the journey toward healing.” (Statement, 12/11/19) Crisis Now: “@FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai, takes a critical step in establishing 988 as the nationwide number for #mentalhealth and suicide emergencies, mirroring what the three-digit-number 911 is for medical crises.” (Tweet, 11/22/19) Health Innovation Alliance: “We support Chairman @AjitPaiFCC's proposal to establish ‘9-8-8’ as the new national suicide prevention hotline number and applaud @SenCoryGardner @SenatorBaldwin @teammoulton & @RepChrisStewart for your leadership in Congress.” (Tweet, 11/19/19) LGBT Tech: “Having 988 as the national number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline would be indispensable for LGBTQ+ people seeking help. Statistics show all too clearly how much our community needs access to these life-saving resources. Making them more accessible, as Chairman Pai has proposed, would give our community more support to thrive in the face of such difficult odds.” (Blog, 11/19/19) Mental Health America: “Almost half of teens who complete a #mentalhealth screen at http://MHAScreening.org report thinking about suicide. We have got to make it easier for them to get help, and the three-digit 988 is a leap forward in accomplishing this.” (Tweet, 12/11/19) National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: “As the nation’s public-private partnership for suicide prevention working with over 250 national partners, we applaud the FCC’s leadership to advance 988 as the designated national number for suicide prevention and mental health. … An easy to remember number, supported by an adequately supported crisis line infrastructure, is not only an important component of our crisis system but also a critical way to save lives in the U.S.” (Statement, 12/11/19) National Alliance on Mental Illness: “NAMI applauds Chairman Ajit Pai and the FCC for their leadership on this issue and strongly supports the creation of a national 3-digit number as an essential part of a network of services and supports for people experiencing a mental health crisis. … By creating a simple, easy-to-remember 3-digit number, NAMI believes it will improve access to life-saving resources.” (Press Release, 12/11/19) National Association for Rural Mental Health: “1 in 5 Americans are #rural. Over 6.5M rural people have a #mentalhealth diagnosis. It's clear: With 988 as a national #suicideprevention & mental health #crisishotline, we remove barriers for rural Americans in crisis to access vital help.” (Tweet, 12/11/19) National Association of Wheat Growers: “This is a huge step in the right direction and will be a huge resource for our family farmers, ranchers and veterinarians.” (FCC Advances New National Suicide Prevention And Mental Health Services Hotline, AgriPulse, 11/27/19) National Council for Behavioral Health: “As suicide rates in the U.S. reach a 75-year high, we applaud the Federal Communication Commission’s response to our nation’s suicide epidemic by recommending that 988 serve as the suicide prevention hotline. … Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in our nation, and for those in crisis the FCC decision spearheaded by Chairman Ajit Pai will be the difference between finding help and losing hope.” (Statement, 12/11/19) RI International and Behavioral Health Link: “[We] strongly support the FCC voting to approve 9-8-8 designation on December 12. … Establishing 9-8-8 is the first milestone to a new day and vision of caring and effective urgent and emergency care available to anyone, anytime, anywhere.” (Press Release, 12/11/19) Rural & Agriculture Council of America: “Today, FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC proposed the establishment of 988 as a nationwide, 3-digit mental health hotline. U.S. farmers & ranchers are 5x more likely to commit suicide than other professions. This is a much needed policy proposal.” (Tweet, 11/19/19) Slate Managing Editor Abby McIntyre: “Making it as easy to call for help during a mental health crisis as dialing 911 in any other emergency is a great idea. … [I]t’s amazing to see the FCC stepping up and collaborating with mental health experts to get this done.” (The FCC Chairman Wants to Make It Easier to Call the Suicide Hotline, Slate, 11/21/19) Trevor Project: “Critically important to our community, the FCC’s August report to Congress identified young LGBTQ Americans as an acutely high-risk population for suicide attempts and also recognized the need for specialized services for such at-risk populations. The Trevor Project stands ready to help the Lifeline serve this population.” (Press Release, 11/20/19) Vibrant Emotional Health:  “We applaud the FCC's leadership in proposing to designate a 3-digit dialing code, 988, for a national suicide and mental health crisis hotline. … We believe this historical and critical effort will turn the tide on reducing suicides and promote mental wellness in the United States.”  (Statement, 12/12/19) ### Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-1000 Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).