Demand for the 988 Lifeline has continued to grow since the national suicide hotline launched in 2022, according to a July 14 report from KFF.
The federally mandated, three-digit 988 crisis number, which launched in 2022, connects callers to a network of local crisis centers.
Here are five things to know:
- The 988 service received a monthly average of 654,000 texts, chats and calls, as of May 2024. When the service launched in July 2022, it received 355,000 contacts.
- Around two-thirds of 988 contacts are via call. Other contacts are through text and chat.
- Forty-two states now answer 80% or more of 988 calls in-state, up from 23 states before 988’s launch.
- The overall number of suicide deaths has remained stable from 2022 to 2023.
- The current proposed HHS budget would maintain current funding levels for 988; however, the agency recently eliminated specialized 988 services for LGBTQ+ youth. These specialized services previously handled around 10% of 988 contacts, according to KFF.
Read the full report here.
