Youth Suicides Have Declined Thanks to 988

In July four years ago, a nationwide rollout launched 988. With that three-digit number in place, people have another emergency line to call. You can dial 911 if, say, a house is on fire, but you can call or text 988 if it’s a mental health emergency.

This national lifeline stays open 24/7 so people can always get the help they need. Its primary goal is to lower the rate of suicide across the country. So, has it?

Now that we’re a handful of years past the initial launch of 988, we can start looking at the data. And the answer is a resounding yes. 988 is saving lives, especially among younger populations.

The data on how 988 is saving young lives

Between 2010 and 2022, suicides among adolescents and young adults were trending upward. But the launch of 988 fortunately helped things change course.

A study published in April of this year looked at the data. It found that after the launch of the lifeline, suicide rates among younger people were lower than what we would have expected based on historical data.

Just as encouragingly, the data shows that adolescent and youth suicides have started to trend downward. It’s worth taking a look at that linked graph. It provides a way to visualize the way this lifeline helped suicide rates across the country move in the right direction.

To further drive the point home, the study also notes that in states where more people call 988, the youth suicide rate dropped more. That underscores the importance of this life-saving measure.

Help spread the word about 988

After the lifeline’s rollout in 2022, usage rates climbed. In March of this year (the most recent data available), 988 received more than 400,000 calls. Callers talk to someone at the lifeline for about 14 minutes, on average. In that relatively short time, studies show that people get care that helps them.

Still, only about 18% of people asked said they had heard of 988. And the media push that helped to make 988 more widely known has started to die down. We want to help keep this resource in front of as many people as possible.

Do you know someone who might want this number in their back pocket? Or maybe you want to save the number in your own phone.

We want everyone to know that this kind of crisis care is readily available. There’s never any cost attached to calling 988. The operators are all trained to offer compassionate responses and to, as best they can, help people in their critical moments of need.

We’re also here to supplement with in-person therapy. While 988 can be a huge help in moments of suicidal ideation, the support shouldn’t stop when you hang up the phone.

To get connected to a local therapist who can work with you to find the support you need, contact us. We have lots of different therapists available. Tell us a little bit about what you’re going through and our intake coordinator can help to match you with someone to come alongside you. You don’t have to walk this path alone.