Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant), the administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline), commends the U.S. House of Representatives for taking steps towards safeguarding the nation's mental health infrastructure by passing H.R. 498, also known as the "9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act." Spearheaded by Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), this bipartisan initiative seeks to bolster the security and reliability of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, shielding it from potential cyber threats and ensuring seamless access to critical services for those in distress.

In December 2022, one of the vendors of the 988 Lifeline encountered a significant outage and fell victim to a cyber attack, severely hampering the ability of individuals in crisis to reach out for essential support. H.R. 498 introduces amendments to the statute governing the program, establishing a robust reporting framework for cybersecurity vulnerabilities or incidents and mandating a comprehensive study of cybersecurity risks associated with the 988 Lifeline.

Grant Riewe, Chief Technology Officer at Vibrant Emotional Health, sincerely appreciated the U.S. House of Representatives' decision. He states, "The passage of the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act is crucial in ensuring the continued availability and security of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. By fortifying cybersecurity measures, this legislation helps uphold our commitment to providing essential mental health services to those in need, especially during times of vulnerability." 

"The bipartisan support for H.R. 498 reflects a collective recognition of the importance of mental health support and crisis intervention. It demonstrates a unified effort to mitigate potential risks and ensure that individuals in crisis receive the assistance they deserve without disruption. We thank Representatives Obernolte and Cárdenas for their leadership, The House Energy & Commerce Committee, and the entire House for considering this important bill. Vibrant calls on the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as it comes to their chamber," said Laura Evans, Assistant Vice President for Public Policy & Government Affairs within Vibrant Emotional Health.