North Charlotte Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) have introduced the Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving and expediting access to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The legislation seeks to connect callers with their nearest call center quickly and safely, while also protecting user privacy.

Senator Tillis highlighted the progress made in expanding access to quality mental health care in recent years and emphasized the importance of the bill in ensuring individuals in crisis receive rapid and localized care. He stated, "This legislation furthers that goal by ensuring those experiencing a mental health crisis receive rapid and localized care when calling the Lifeline, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to make lifesaving mental health care more accessible."

Currently, calls to the 9-8-8 hotline are routed based on the caller's area code, which often leads to callers being connected to centers that cannot provide the necessary mental health assistance. The Local 9-8-8 Response Act aims to address this issue by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to route calls based on the proximity of the caller to the call center, without revealing their specific location.

In addition, the bill instructs carriers to allow calls and texts to 9-8-8, even if the caller's phone plan is inactive or the carrier is experiencing service interruptions. This ensures that individuals in crisis can reach out for help regardless of their phone's status. The legislation also obligates multi-line systems, such as hotel and office phones, to support the direct dialing of 9-8-8, eliminating the need for additional numbers to be dialed.

The Local 9-8-8 Response Act has received support from various organizations working in the field of mental health. Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, expressed gratitude for the bipartisan leadership shown by Senators Padilla and Tillis. He stated, "AFSP is grateful to Senator Padilla and Senator Tillis for their bipartisan leadership to enhance access to 9-8-8 by ensuring individuals in crisis receive timely support while maintaining privacy."

Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), also commended Senators Padilla and Tillis for introducing the bill. She emphasized the importance of connecting help seekers to the local resources that can support their well-being. "This bill will ensure that help seekers reaching out to 9-8-8 get connected to the support they need in their community," said Wesolowski.

The Local 9-8-8 Response Act aims to improve access to life-saving supports and mental health resources by routing calls and texts to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline based on the caller's proximity to the local call center. By enhancing access and maintaining privacy, the bill seeks to provide individuals in crisis with timely and appropriate support. A one-page summary and the full text of the bill are available for reference.

As the bipartisan bill is introduced, it represents an important step towards enhancing and expediting access to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive the necessary care they need in a timely manner.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2023/12/tillis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-and-expedite-access-to-the-9-8-8-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline