Answering the Call Act of 2026

The Answering the Call Act of 2026 aims to improve access and outreach for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline specifically for first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach activities, in coordination with first responder organizations, to promote 9-8-8 and address barriers like stigma and privacy concerns. The bill also authorizes grants for public awareness campaigns, mandates specialized trauma-informed training for 9-8-8 counselors to serve first responders, and requires data collection on their hotline use with privacy safeguards. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program for federal agencies and first responder organizations to collaborate on tailoring these outreach efforts.