A majority of adults age 50 and older have never heard of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, despite the nationwide service receiving more than 26 million calls, texts and chats since its launch four years ago, according to a 2025 poll from Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan researchers.
The findings come from a nationally representative survey conducted in September 2025 by NORC at the University of Chicago for the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. The survey included 2,379 adults ages 50 to 95, with a separate Michigan analysis of 1,265 adults ages 50 to 93.
“Those of us who care for people over 50 in any capacity should look for opportunities to share information about 988 and other crisis services, because anyone can have a mental health crisis, or encounter a friend or family member who is having one,” said Poll Director Jeffrey Kullgren, MD, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Here are five things to know:
- Most older adults are unaware of 988. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they had never heard of 988, and 31% had never heard of any mental health crisis line.
- Many would still use a crisis line. Fifty-six percent said they would be very or somewhat likely to use a mental health crisis line during a mental health emergency, while 46% said they would be very or somewhat likely to call 911.
- Awareness gaps were greater among some groups. Forty-six percent of Hispanic adults age 50 and older said they were unaware of any mental health crisis hotline. Men were also less likely than women to report awareness of a crisis line.
- A brief explanation increased comfort with 988. After respondents received information about the service, 75% said they would feel at least somewhat comfortable contacting 988. Men were less likely than women to say they would be comfortable doing so (68% versus 81%).
- Privacy remains a concern. Nearly half of respondents (49%) reported at least one concern about contacting 988. Privacy was the most common concern, cited by 26%, while 40% said the ability to remain anonymous would make them more likely to use the service.
Read more about the methodology here.
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