A recent study published in JAMA shows a promising sign of improvement in the youth mental health crisis – the 988 national mental health crisis hotline, launched in 2022, appears to be working. In the two-and-a-half years since the hotline was launched, suicide deaths among Americans aged 15- to 23-years-old were 11% lower than researched projected, translating to nearly 4,400 fewer deaths by suicide than initially expected.
While it is very difficult to determine conclusively that the 988 crisis hotline is directly responsible for these promising results, several findings indicate a strong link. For example, states with the highest increases in 988 call volume also had the largest gap between projected and actual suicide deaths, and a similar reduction in deaths was not seen in adults over 65 who are less likely to use the hotline. In addition, researchers compared their findings to suicide data from England where no comparable hotline exists and found no drop in suicides.
Researchers are heartened by these findings, which are consistent with previous research showing that callers report feeling less suicidal and more hopeful after speaking with a trained crisis counselor at the 988 Lifeline, and highlight the need for continued funding and support of the 988 system.
Read the full story: pbs.org/newshour/health/988-hotline-linked-to-thousands-of-fewer-youth-suicide-deaths-since-launch-study-finds