The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that everyone must dial all 10 digits of a telephone number, even for local calls. This is being done to facilitate new 988, three dgit number, to be used to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline. The three digit number for the crisis line will start operating on July 16, 2022. Users will still have to dial the current number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) until then.
The suicide prevention line required a new tax on phone service in Washington State, which the legislature enacted as HB 1477 - 2021-22 (text). The tax is 24 cents per line per month between October 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, and is increased to 40 cents per line per month beginning January 1, 2023. All forms of voice communication are subject to the tax.
Impolite research could not find published results on the effectiveness of using telephone mental health services.
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