September is Suicide Prevention Month, with the Minnesota Department of Health highlighting the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The 9-8-8 line was rolled out by the FCC earlier this year.
This 3-digit lifeline was the reason why people in the 218 area code had to start using 10 digits for local calls.
According to preliminary data, there were 777 suicides in 2021, the seventh straight year in which more than 700 Minnesotans died by suicide.
Every year, there are more than 10,000 self-harm or suicidal injuries treated by health care providers.
Since the switch to 988 in July, the four Suicide Lifeline call centers in the state have seen a 44 percent increase in call volume.
The increase is attributed to the easy-to-remember number.
