Will you need to dial your area code soon? 988 for suicide prevention is why

[underpants]

At least here in 804.

The change comes as the a new quick way to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is implemented.

Central Virginia’s 804 area will become one of 82 area codes that’s required to use 10-digit-dialing starting on Oct. 24. This means every local call must include the three-digit area code and seven-digit phone number, just as if you were dialing someone with a different area code.

The tradeoff? A potentially lifesaving new phone number.

People experiencing a crisis will soon be able to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, similar to how you can call 911.

The new short number for suicide prevention will be available nationally available by July 16, 2022.

In the meantime, people can call 1-800-273-8255

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/dont-forget-that-area-code-804-switching-to-10-digit-dial-requirement/

[proud patriot]

1. Yup

we here in Hawaii will need to do this

[gratuitous]

2. Been doing it since 2000 in the 503

You get used to it.

[hlthe2b]

4. same in Denver, Colorado, since 1998 (303/ 720, and soon to add, 983)

I actually thought this was nationwide by now. I had also been doing it in CO's other area codes, 970 and 719 all along, although it appears that was not necessary up to now).

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Atlanta has been dialing 10 digits since 1998. We got used to it.

[lagomorph777]

5. Been doing it since the 1990s in Northern VA.

[LeftInTX]

6. Ours has been required since 2017

I thought it was all over the country. I did not know it was a regional thing??

From 2018: https://www.att.com/support/smallbusiness/article/smb-digital-phone/KM1195588/

[SamKnause]

7. It started here about 18 months ago.

[Dave in VA]

8. Same here in Southeast Virginia

The 757 is getting a new area code:

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/from-the-757-to-the-948-virginia-commission-announces-new-area-code-for-hampton-roads/291-293b101b-2265-45c7-9d79-7062f0e863f4

[Ms. Toad]

9. I wasn't aware anyone didn't already need to. n/t

[TDale313]

10. I bet it's been about 10 years we've had to do that here.

We also have to dial the 1 before the area code.

[cloudbase]

11. Mandatory in the Houston area since May 1997. n/t

[Maeve]

12. Already do in central Ohio. Glad to see a short number for suicide prevention!

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Has To Be Almost 30 Years Here In NE Illinois

They made the switch as the first pocket sized cellphones started taking off.
The sudden expansion of numbers in the Chicago market had them worried about running out of numbers, especially in the 312 area code.
I always wondered why they just wouldn't add an 8th digit, and get 10x the numbers.
Then, a guy who worked for at&t told me there was a huge programming & switch logic effort to do that.
One line of code in the logic was needed to require the area code. Made sense.
That was a long time ago. 1993 at the latest.

[csziggy]

14. They started it here in February

And added a new area code to the region.

I'm glad to hear of the new suicide hotline number - that is very useful to have nationwide. I hope it saves a lot of lives!

[kcr]

15. I didn't know there were still areas that didn't require that

I can't remember the last time I dialed using only 7 digits.

[Raine]

16. I've been doing it here in the Los Angeles area

for decades even when calling someone just across the street.

[nuxvomica]

17. We've been doing that since 2017 in upstate NY

The 838 area code was overlaid on the 518 area and suddenly one day we had to dial the area code for each 518 number. I still have not encountered an 838 number.