Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care
Create 988 as a national phone number to for suicide and crisis support
Closed
89 signatures
What the petition asks
By calling or texting 988, you'll connect with mental health professionals. Modelled after 999, the three-digit 988 is designed to be a memorable & quick number that connects people who are suicidal or in any other mental health crisis to a trained mental health professional.
There are urgent mental health realities driving the need for crisis service transformation across our country. In 2020 alone, the UK had 5,224 deaths by suicide that equating to an average of 15 deaths per day.
The Government establishing and funding this initiative can also minimise unnecessary contact or connection with police services when what a person needs are connecting with a mobile crisis worker or anyone within the mental health sector and also will put less pressure on the 999-emergency number and the A&E departments.
The Government establishing and funding this initiative can also minimise unnecessary contact or connection with police services when what a person needs are connecting with a mobile crisis worker or anyone within the mental health sector and also will put less pressure on the 999-emergency number and the A&E departments.
Timeline
| 22 Dec 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Jun 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
89
Status
Closed
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
22 Dec 2022
Closed
22 Jun 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.