Background

Pursuant to its obligation to protect public safety and its authority to ensure the “efficient, fair, and orderly allocation of toll-free numbers” under the Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has assigned toll-free numbers be used as National Suicide Prevention Hotline numbers. The FCC has assigned these numbers to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, and administers the National Suicide Prevention program. The three numbers assigned to SAMHSA to be used as hotlines are:

• 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

• 1-888-SUICIDE (1-888-784-2433)

• 1-877-SUICIDA (1-877-784-2432) (Spanish).

In addition to these numbers, the FCC has reserved the 211 dialing code for community information and referral services. Dialing 211 gives consumers an easy-to-remember method to help connect individuals and families in need with the appropriate, community-based organizations and/or government agencies.

For More Information

For more information about these numbers, visit the SAMHSA Web site at: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/about/800-suicidefaq.aspx. For more information about national suicide prevention help in general, visit the SAMHSA Web site at: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

For information about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiry and Complaints Division
455 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.

For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
(electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print, or audio) please write or call us
at the address or phone number below, or send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov.

To receive information on this and other FCC consumer topics through the Commission's
electronic subscriber service, visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts/.

This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to
affect any proceeding or cases involving this subject matter or related issues.

11/5/08

	Federal Communications Commission · Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554
	1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)  ·  TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)  · Fax: 1-866-418-0232  · www.fcc.gov/cgb/