Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) designating 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline became law on Oct. 17 with the president’s signature.
“I applaud the president for signing my common-sense, bipartisan legislation to shorten the national suicide hotline from ten digits to three easy-to-remember numbers: 9-8-8,” Sen. Gardner said. “This change to 9-8-8 will make it easier for Americans dealing with a crisis to access mental health support that could save their lives.”
Sen. Gardner in October 2019 introduced the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, S. 2661, with cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Companion legislation, the same-named H.R. 4194, was introduced in August 2019 by U.S. Reps. Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Seth Moulton (D-MA).
“Colorado tragically has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, which is why I’ve made it a priority to work with my colleagues across the aisle for years to make mental health support more available,” said Sen. Gardner. “The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased our state’s mental health needs, and during this unprecedented challenge suicide prevention is now more important than ever.”
Once the Federal Communications Commission finalizes the technical implementation of 9-8-8 as the nationwide number, it also will include the Veterans Crisis Line for veteran-specific mental health support. The bill also requires that a report be made to Congress on how to improve support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and other high-risk populations.
Several individuals thanked Sen. Gardner for his leadership in securing unanimous passage of the measure through Congress, including Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“The easily accessible 9-8-8 dialing code will bring our nation’s mental health crisis response system into the 21st century. We thank Senator Gardner for his leadership in securing unanimous passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act through Congress; this historic effort will save lives,” Gebbia said.
Other supporters of the legislation include: Frank Cornelia, deputy director of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council; Steve Kjonaas, legislative director of the Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars; Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America; and Sam Brinton, vice president of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project.