A11% decline in young adult suicide rates over 2.5 years following the 988 mental health crisis hotline’s launch

(SeaPRwire) –   Almost 4,400 fewer U.S. teens and young adults died by suicide than projected over the first two-and-a-half years of the 988 mental health crisis hotline, a sign the program is working even as it faces long-term funding hurdles.

Suicide fatalities among 15- to 23-year-olds were 11% lower than researchers had predicted between July 2022 — when the lifeline launched — and December 2024, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA.

“The 988 program represents one of the largest federal investments in suicide prevention in U.S. history — totaling roughly $1.5 billion cumulatively — and our findings indicate that investment has led to measurable drops in young adult suicide deaths,” said Dr. Vishal Patel, a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School and the study’s lead author.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of support, the U.S. national suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.

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The researchers analyzed nationwide death certificate records from 1999 to 2022 to create a model projecting what suicide mortality rates would have been if the 988 hotline had never launched. They then compared those projected figures to the actual number of suicide deaths.

The researchers cannot say for sure that 988 was the sole cause of the reduction, and the overall U.S. suicide rate has fallen. But they conducted several additional analyses to “gut check” their overall conclusions, Patel explained.

The team discovered that the 10 states with the sharpest rises in call volume after 988 launched also saw far wider gaps between projected and actual suicide deaths. The drop in suicide rates was also more pronounced among younger age groups compared to adults over 65, who are less likely to use the hotline. Additionally, no similar shifts in suicide deaths were observed in England, where no equivalent crisis lifeline was active during the study timeframe.

These findings align with prior research.

“Research has shown that most individuals who reach out to the 988 Lifeline report feeling significantly less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking with a trained crisis counselor,” a spokesperson for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — the agency that funds the hotline — stated in response to the study.

Study findings “very heartening,” expert says

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, who heads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research initiative and was not part of the study, stated that the results were “very heartening and extremely positive.” She hopes to see additional research that replicates these results, but noted that the study authors did extensive work to eliminate other potential explanations for the decline.

Harkavy-Friedman explained that the full mental health care system is critical to reducing suicide rates. She noted that 988’s ability to connect callers to the right support — including helping them create safety plans, linking them to local crisis intervention teams, and referring individuals to long-term care — has had “extraordinary” impact. Even just having a number to call during a crisis can also be life-saving, she added.

“That is the core strength of the crisis line,” Harkavy-Friedman shared. “When you call, the situation is de-escalated, giving the caller more ability to work through whatever is fueling their emotions in that moment.”

Experts note that the current patchwork of federal and state funding for call centers remains insufficient to meet the true level of need.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposed federal budget keeps 988 funding steady at $534.6 million for fiscal year 2027, with projections of 11 million contacts next year.

“The hotline is not a one-size-fits-all solution for preventing suicide deaths,” said Jonathan Purtle, a mental health policy researcher at New York University. “But the number of lives it has saved is a significant achievement and underscores the need for sustained investment in 988 from federal, and especially state, lawmakers.”

Dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth

During a Capitol Hill hearing Tuesday, Sen. Tammy Baldwin pressed Kennedy to follow through on a “legal requirement” to restore 988’s specialized line for LGBTQ+ youth. The administration abruptly cut the program last summer, despite evidence that this population faces disproportionately high suicide rates.

“Yes, we are working to get it up and running now,” Kennedy told the Wisconsin Democrat. Spokespeople for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately provide The Associated Press with any timeline or details of that restoration.

Patel said the specialized services for high-risk groups — including the LGBTQ+ line — are a key part of what makes the program effective.

“Our findings should be read as evidence that this is a program worth preserving and expanding, not one to scale back,” he said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.