The National Suicide Lifeline changed from its 10-digit number to a three-digit number – 988 – effective July 16.

The original number – 1-800-273-8255 – will continue to be operational after July 16 and will route calls to 988 indefinitely.

The concept was to have a national three-digit “easy access” number for mental health and wellness issues, including substance abuse. The law was enacted in 2020, and two years were allotted for the Federal Communications Commission to have the proper infrastructure.

There is 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors, who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress, including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis or any other kind of emotional distress.

People can call or text 988 or chat on 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

The number 988 serves as a universal entry point, so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

Counselors taking 988 calls located at 13 crisis call centers around Pennsylvania can immediately provide phone-based support and connections to local resources.

If needed, the counselor can activate a mobile mental health crisis team that will arrive on site, provide therapeutic interventions and/or make referrals for outpatient services or transportation for further evaluation.

By directing cases to 988 when a behavioral health or mental crisis isn’t life threatening, the response provided by public services, such as law enforcement and EMS, can be reserved for situations in which lives are endangered.

The Lehigh County coroner reported 63 suicide cases Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2020; 52 cases Jan. 1, 2021-Dec. 31, 2021; and 39 cases spanning Jan. 1-July 15, this year.

Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and, sadly, the pandemic only made a bad situation worse when it comes to mental health and wellness in America.

There are urgent realities driving the need for crisis service transformation across the country.

In 2020 alone, the United States had one death by suicide about every 11 minutes.

For people aged 10-34 years, suicide is a leading cause of death.

More than 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses April 2020-April 2021.

The 988 lifeline helps thousands of struggling people overcome suicidal crisis or mental-health related distress every day.

Veterans, service members and their families can still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the current phone number – 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, or by chat or text to 838255.

More information on 988 is available at samhsa.gov/988 and samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs.

Contributed article