FCC approves new 3-digit national suicide hotline

(CNN) – The US will have a three-digit suicide hotline within two years.

The Federal Communications Commission is authorizing 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Right now, callers have to dial a 10-digit number.

At least one FCC commissioner laments that the new hotline won’t allow for texting.

Suicide is a growing public health concern as Americans grapple with the pandemic, the economy and civil unrest.