Bandwidth now supports dialing 988 for suicide prevention

What's happening? 

Effective June 27, 2022, Bandwidth will support 988 as the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can also still be reached by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress as well as prevention and crisis resources. We are proud to support this new three-digit dialing code.

What do I need to know?

In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to establish 988 as the nationwide, easy-to-remember 3-digit dialing code for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors by July 16, 2022. 

Bandwidth supports receiving 988 calls for termination from customers originating calls from the U.S. and its largest five territories:  Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands. This will not require any changes to customer rate decks. 

What do I need to do?

If needed, adjust your dial plan to ensure that the 988 short code is supported by July 16, 2022. Bandwidth will support 988 effective June 27. 

Please note, 988 traffic should be routed to your core network using the same SBCs as normal voice traffic, as opposed to 911 SBCs.

Questions?

Learn more about the FCC requirements regarding the 988 short code at the FCC Suicide Prevention Hotline webpage. You can also open a ticket with your Bandwidth Support Team or hit us up at (855) 864-7776!

988 access unavailable in Canada

Canada does not support the ability to call or text 988 to reach the national suicide prevention service but help is available. You can contact the service in the following manners:

• Adults can text 741741;
• Youth can text 686868; or
• Quebec residents can text 1-855-957-5353; or
• Calling Canada’s suicide prevention service at 1-833-456-4566.

SMS 988 - accès non disponibles au Canada

Le Canada ne permet pas d’envoyer un SMS au 988 pour joindre le service national de prévention du suicide, mais d’autres aides sont disponibles. Vous pouvez contacter le service national de prévention du suicide des manières suivantes:

• Les adultes peuvent envoyer un SMS au 741741;
• Les jeunes peuvent envoyer un SMS au 686868;
• Les résidents du Québec peuvent envoyer un SMS au 1-855-957-5353; et
• Vous pouvez aussi appeler le service canadien de prévention du suicide au 1-833-456-4566.