Last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act as part of H.R.2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The bill was introduced by Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to improve cybersecurity measures for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline following past service disruptions.
“I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of this critical legislation. Increasing cybersecurity measures for the 988 Lifeline is imperative to suicide prevention,” said Senator Mullin. “Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy, and every life lost is one too many. This bill will keep the lifeline secure to ensure that those experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the resources and support they need when they need it most.”
“People struggling with their mental health shouldn’t be met with disruptions or service outages when they call the 9-8-8 Lifeline at the most critical times of need. We can’t let cybersecurity vulnerabilities get in the way of providing lifesaving support,” said Senator Padilla. “I am glad to see the Senate unanimously pass our bipartisan bill to better identify and prevent cyberattacks so people in crisis have access to the Lifeline whenever they need it.”
The legislation requires coordination between administrators of the 988 Lifeline and the Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to prevent cyberattacks and address known vulnerabilities within its systems. Additionally, network administrators must notify federal authorities about cybersecurity incidents or vulnerabilities within 24 hours of detection. The Government Accountability Office will also conduct a study on risks facing the system.
The act has received support from several organizations including: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, Crisis Text Line, Inseparable, Mental Health America, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Jed Foundation, and Vibrant Emotional Health.
Individuals seeking help can dial 9-8-8 for free confidential support at any time or visit https://988lifeline.org/chat/ for online assistance.
