Delaware’s Legislature is considering House Bill 160 to establish a funding source for the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware supports this important measure and asks all lawmakers to vote for it. The 988 number is a vital lifeline in mental health crises.
Three years ago, Congress passed the 988 National Suicide Designation Act, requiring a new, universal three-digit calling code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, similar to 911 for public safety emergencies.
State and local governments were responsible for implementing the 988 system, which opened in July 2022. Congress allowed states to assess a fee on phone bills to recover the costs of 988 and crisis services.
The Delaware legislation would add a 60-cent monthly surcharge on each wireless access line, charge a one-time 60-cent fee on prepaid services and establish a fund for the surcharge. The bill has passed the House, but must be approved by the Senate or it will be at least another six months before it can be considered.
Sixty cents a month is a small price to pay for mental health services.
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