INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Thousands of local telephone users will need more patience.

‘951’ in Riverside County is among 82 area codes across the nation ordered by the FCC in preparation for a move to designate 988 as the national three-digit suicide and mental health crisis hotline.

‘988’ already is a prefix within the ‘951’ area code. Beginning October 24th, ‘988’ will become the national three-digit suicide and mental health crisis hotline.

Consequently, callers to area ‘951’ will need to dial that number plus the remaining seven digits for a total of 10 digits.

Calls dialed with only seven digits will reach a recording that the call cannot be completed as dialed. Callers must hang up and dial again using 1 + area code + telephone number.

There are 82 area codes nationwide, including nine in California, affected by the 10-digit dialing rule. In California, they include the 209, 530, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949 and 951 area codes.

Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing “988” will route your call to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.

Transitioning to ten-digit dialing will not affect a customer’s current telephone number. That phone number, including the area code, will not change.

Area code ‘951’ covers western Riverside County, including the cities and communities of Banning, Beaumont, Corona, Canyon Lake, Riverside, Temescal Valley, Woodcrest, Moreno Valley, Perris, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, Temecula, San Jacinto, Hemet, Lakeview, Nuevo, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and Idyllwild.

Story Date: October 22, 2021