National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The recent change in four Florida area codes and 81 others in the country will give residents access to 988 for suicide help, similar to using 911 for other medical emergencies.

Research on the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong found a rise in suicides accompanied the health crises. The same could happen with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously OK'd the proposal, which would allow callers in crisis to reach a national mental health support network simply by dialing 988.

Florida's rural counties are seeing suicide rates for youth almost double that of the state's large cities. And experts say isolation, poverty, access...