T-Mobile has now activated 988 as the Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Thanks to T-Mobile, customers can now dial 988 to access free mental health services. This progress comes a year and a half ahead of the time limit set by the Federal Communications Commission for cell phone carriers.

The FCC voted to reduce the ten digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a 3 digit number; 988 was chosen as the designated number. Cellphone providers were given until July 2022 to integrate this in their networks and begin transferring all 988 calls to the NSPL’s nationwide crisis centers.

This comes amid spikes in suicide and mental health cases magnified by the pandemic, and both NSPL and T-Mobile are hoping that this will serve to provide faster help to those who require it.

Out of all major phone providers, T-Mobile has now become the first to support 988 on their network.