‘Minutes matter,’ say advocates of 3-digit suicide hotline

Oregon is ranked as having some of the highest rates of mental illness and lowest access to care – 49th in the country, according to the group Mental Health America.

An Oregon senator wants to make some changes, so it’s easier for people who need help to get it.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote a letter to the Federal Communications Commission this week, asking for a new three-digit phone number, other than 911, for people needing mental health and suicide support.

The letter highlights some alarming statistics, including the fact that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 40,000 Americans died by suicide last year.

Also last year, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline fielded about 2 million calls.

For these reasons, Wyden believes an easy to remember 3-digit number could save lives.

“And suicide rates are just way, way too high, devastatingly high. And the fact is, when every second counts, folks in crisis ought to be able to get immediate access to the care that they need,” Wyden told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday.

He’s not the only one who thinks that. Carol Palmer works with the Central Oregon Suicide Prevention Alliance and says time and accessibility can make all the difference.

“We know that a significant percentage of the suicides take place within minutes after the decision is made, sometimes five minutes,” Palmer said. “In five minutes, if somebody already knows a three-digit number, they might call it. And they aren’t going to be able to remember 10-digit numbers.”

Palmer said sometimes people don’t want to call 911 because they are afraid. This would be an easy-to-remember alternative.

“I think many people are reluctant to call 911 if it’s not a physical emergency and they don’t really realize that 911 wants to be there for them in a mental health emergency as well,” Palmer said. “But if we have a three-digit number just for suicide prevention, we’re going to get people who specifically know how to talk about that and not be wasting any time.”

Wyden said he has yet to hear back from the FCC, but they have received his letter.

He also said rural Oregon especially needs access to mental health services, and this three-digit number could help with that.

Several other lawmakers from around the country have voiced their support for the initiative, including Republican Sen. Orin Hatch from Utah.

One three-digit number proposed is 611, which was suggested by the Oregon suicide prevention group Lines for Life.