National Suicide Prevention Lifeline gets a new phone number

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – On Saturday, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is updating its phone number.

Now callers will only have to dial 988, instead of the 10-digit phone number associated with the hotline for the last 15 years.

One of every six callers hangs up before speaking to a hotline worker, so the hope is that an easier number results in fielding more phone calls and shorter response times.

The lifeline will still answer calls to its original phone number, 800-273-8255, even after the new number launches.