WASHINGTON — As part of a Biden administration push to expand mental health resources, the Department of Health and Human Services is awarding nearly $105 million to 54 states and territories to help states transition from the 10-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a simpler “988” dialing code to call, text or chat.
The money comes from the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year.
One person died by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14 and young adults aged 25 to 34 that year.
