Recently, the United States Congress has recognized the importance of suicide prevention in passing the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 (PL 116-172). The law designated “9-8-8” as the national
three-digit telephone number for the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line, to make it easier to dial potentially life-saving help. The US Federal Communications Commission is mandated to submit
subsequent reports on the feasibility and implementation of the 9-8-8 suicide hotline number. This presents a timely opportunity to advocate for a National Suicide Hotline to include life-saving videoconferencing options.