Label
Councilman Ludeman
Title
Urging the Federal Communications Commission to move as rapidly as possible to implement the 988, three digit Suicide Hotline; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, the National Suicide Prevention hotline was established in 2005 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Vibrant Emotional health, a mental health nonprofit; and
WHEREAS, according to the CDC, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. The suicide rate in America is at its highest since World War II; and
WHEREAS, in 2017 alone, more than 47,000 Americans died by suicide and more than 1.4 million adults attempted to take their lives; and
WHEREAS, the current hotline is accessible by a 10-digit number 1-800-273-9255. This change will make it more accessible to those in crisis to reach out for help; and
WHEREAS, at risk populations for suicide increased, from 2007 to 2017 overall ages 10-24 seeing a 56% rise in suicide rates; and
WHEREAS, last year, Congress passed and signed into law the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act; and
WHEREAS, the FCC has proposed requiring all telephone service providers to accommodate the 988 number within 18 months. The next step is Public Comment on all aspects of the implementation process, including a longer or shorter timeframe for implementation; and
WHEREAS, on December 12, 2019 The 5 member Federal Communications Commission voted to approve the proposal, for open comment and start the rulemaking process to establish a three-digit number “988” as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of this Council to encourage the FCC and Congress to move as swiftly as possible in implementing the 988 Suicide hotline; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the City of Toledo, known as a compassionate city, fully supports this proposed rule and urge all involved, within the allowed parameters of the law, to implement this change as quickly as possible to assist those in crisis.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds and determines that all formal actions of the Council concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were taken in an open meeting of this Council and that all deliberations of this Council that resulted in those formal actions were in meeting open to the public in compliance with the law.
SECTION 3. That this Resolution is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that immediate action is necessary in order to help those on crisis and need within the City of Toledo.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Adopted: February 11, 2020, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Christopher J. Delaney
Clerk of Council President Pro Tem
Approved: February 11, 2020
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor