News Photo by Julie Riddle In downtown Alpena on Thursday, Alpena residents Brianna Allen, left, and Callie Hanson take youngsters Bo Storms, sleeping, and Silas Storms for a stroll. A national suicide prevention hotline is worth a little extra trouble in dialing phones, the women said.

ALPENA — By the end of this month, local residents should dial 10 digits instead of seven when making any phone call, according to state officials.

To make way for a new suicide prevention hotline planned for July 2022, callers in several Michigan regions will, as of Oct. 24, be required to dial an area code before any phone call they make, including local calls.

Callers should start using area codes on all calls beginning on April 24 to get themselves and their devices ready for the change, according to Ryan McAnany, acting director of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s telecommunications division.

Similar to the national emergency number 911, the suicide prevention hotline — slated to be activated on July 16, 2022 — will use the digits 9-8-8.

Phone numbers in several Michigan area codes, including the 989 area, already begin with the 988 prefix.

Requiring an area code for all calls will keep callers from dialing the suicide hotline accidentally, McAnany said. Callers in the 616, 810, and 906 area codes will also have to dial 10 digits.

Though local calls won’t require an area code until October, residents and businesses should start adjusting to the change now, McAnany said.

Besides being one more thing to remember, the 10-digit requirement could impact speed dial systems and phone contact lists preset to call doctors, pharmacies, or other important numbers.

Come October, those lists won’t work unless they are reset to include the area code, McAnany said.

Home and business burglar alarms and medical alert devices connected to a local phone number will have to be changed, as well. Security providers should be able to help with any needed change to equipment, and phone companies may be able to advise residents on changing their speed dial options, McAnany advised.

The new 10-digit requirement may also affect fax machines, call forwarding settings, and voicemail services.

To make sure calls go through, businesses may need to change phone numbers on websites, stationery, and advertising materials. Residents may consider adding the 989 area code to items such as checks and pet ID tags.

The change will be a hassle, but it’s important, McAnany said.

Currently, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline require looking up or remembering 10 digits — something someone in crisis may not be able to do, he said.

The 988 hotline was selected by the Federal Communications Commission because three-digit numbers ending in 11 are already used for other services.

Michigan isn’t alone; more than 80 area codes in 36 states have to adjust the way they make phone calls to make the 988 hotline possible.

Beginning Oct. 24, local calls without the 989 area code will generate an error message. Telephone numbers will stay the same, and no cost will be added to calls as a result of the change.

Long-distance numbers will still require a 1 and the area code.

Calls to 911 will not require an area code.

To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).