10-digit dialing starts today
Oct. 23—SANTA FE — The state reminded residents Friday that beginning today, 10-digit numbers will be required for all phone calls.
Calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording may inform the caller the call cannot be completed as dialed.
This change is necessary as the Federal Communications Commission has mandated 988 as the new three-digit number to route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Mental Crisis Hotline (1-800-273-TALK). Telephone service providers must have this routing in place by July 15, 2022, and many phone carriers have already completed this task.
"The 988 three-digit will be used to make critical mental health resources available to anyone who needs assistance," said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "While the 911 system is dedicated to public safety emergencies, the launch of the 988 hotline gives people an easy-to-remember number to call for focused support during behavioral health emergencies."
For more information on ten-digit dialing, please contact the FCC. For more information about the Lifeline and 988, please visit vibrant.org/988.
"It's a minor inconvenience to reprogram the area code 505 or 575 in our phones but it will make a huge difference if it will save a life and someone can call 988 when they're having a mental health crisis," said Human Services Secretary David Scrase.
