Starting this weekend, phone customers in Delaware will have to dial all ten digits when calling local numbers.
This applies to both cell phones and landlines. It's all happening because of an FCC law passed last October making 988 the new dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “I like to compare it to 911, but instead of calling for a physical issue you’ll be able to call for any kind of mental health related issue," said Kat Olbrich, Maryland and Delaware Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Since some places have a 988 area code, that act now requires ten-digit dialing in every state to prevent interference. For Delawareans, this means having to dial "302" before the seven digits they're used to for local calls. It also means you'll have to update phone numbers pre-programmed into your contacts for calls to go through. We spoke to Senator Brian Pettyjohn in April, who explained the reasoning behind the switch. "You dial 988 on your phone, the telephone system doesn’t know well are you going to dial four more digits after that or do we connect you to the suicide prevention hotline," Pettyjohn said. While local business owners we spoke to don't think this will affect takeout business too much, they wish more people knew about the change. "I would like something clear make something clear to appear, like 'Hey, from today or from tomorrow don’t forget to dial the 302'. Simple, but it needs some kind of general advertising about that," Thierry Langer, owner of Kaisy's Delights, said. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says the minor inconvenience could make all the difference for someone in crisis. "It’s really hard to remember a ten-digit number, so the 988 will just be more accessible. People will be able to reach out when they have a mental health crisis," Olbrich said. While 10-digit dialing officially starts on Sunday in Delaware, the 988 number won't be in effect nationwide until July. Until then, you can still reach the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text "HOME" to 741741.