ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s about to be easier for people in a mental health crisis to call the suicide prevention hotline.

READ: Dial 988: National mental health crisis hotline launches country wide

Starting Saturday, the number will shorten to just three digits – 988.

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The number is free to use and will be available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Photos: Mental health crisis hotline to open nationwide this weekend

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Mental health crisis hotline to open nationwide this weekend

Services are open to people in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages.

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“The primary purpose of this is to hopefully save more lives and get people better connected to available resources to help them,” said Catherine Rea with Heart of Florida United Way.

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People who want to avoid calling can choose to text instead.

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