Study Finds 11% Drop in Expected U.S. Youth Suicide Deaths Following 988 Hotline Launch

U.S. teens and young adults fell 11% below expected levels in the two-and-a-half years after the 988 mental health crisis hotline launched in July 2022, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA. Researchers analyzed nationwide death certificate records from 1999 to 2022 to model suicide mortality and compared projections to actual deaths through December 2024.

Fortune reported that the 10 states with the largest increases in 988 call volumes after the launch experienced larger gaps between expected and actual suicide deaths. The reductions were more pronounced among younger people, specifically those aged 15 to 23, than in individuals older than 65.

No similar changes in suicide deaths occurred in England during the same period, where no comparable lifeline existed.

The study, led by Dr. Vishal Patel, a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School, suggests the program's impact, with Patel stating that specialized services for high-risk groups, including the LGBTQ+ line, are part of what makes the 988 program work. The 988 program is one of the largest federal investments in suicide prevention in U.S. history — roughly $1.5 billion cumulative.

A spokesperson for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most people who contact the 988 Lifeline feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful.

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, who leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program and was not involved in the study, described the results as heartening. The budget anticipates 11 million contacts for 988 next year. In a Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, Sen.

Tammy Baldwin pressed officials to restore 988’s specialized line for LGBTQ+ youth, which the administration cut last summer.

Spokespeople for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately provide a timeline or details of the restoration to The Associated Press. Jonathan Purtle, a New York University mental health policy researcher, said the hotline is not a panacea for preventing suicide death but underscores the need for sustained investment.

Researchers noted the program's role in connecting callers to crisis intervention and longer-term care.

The study used data to gut-check findings, confirming greater reductions in states with higher call volumes. Patel emphasized that the findings support preserving and expanding the program rather than scaling it back. Harkavy-Friedman highlighted 988’s power to de-escalate crises and help callers address underlying emotions.