988 hotline linked to thousands of fewer youth suicide deaths since launch, study finds
Summary
A study found that nearly 4,400 fewer young people aged 15 to 23 died by suicide in the U.S. after the 988 mental health crisis hotline launched in July 2022. Suicide deaths in this age group were 11% lower than expected during the first two and a half years of the program.Key Facts
- The 988 hotline began in July 2022 as a mental health crisis lifeline.
- Researchers studied suicide deaths among 15- to 23-year-olds from July 2022 to December 2024.
- Suicide deaths were 11% lower than predicted without the 988 hotline.
- This resulted in about 4,400 fewer young people dying by suicide.
- The study was published in the medical journal JAMA.
- Researchers used death records from 1999 to 2022 to estimate expected suicide rates.
- The 988 program has received about $1.5 billion in federal funding.
- The study suggests that this funding helped reduce suicide deaths among young adults.
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