The New Suicide Prevention Hotline

Suicide has been a growing public health crisis in the United States for more than two decades. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that from 1999 through 2019, the suicide rate in the United States increased 33 percent and in 2019, there was one death nearly every 11 minutes. For this reason, in 2004, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was developed as part of a multi-project effort to reduce suicide and help people in emotional distress. This Lifeline currently provides over 180 call centers, 38 chat/text centers, and 3 Spanish language centers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also incorporates the Veterans Crisis Line, a service dedicated to veterans in distress. Since its inception, the Lifeline has provided a place for people experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide to receive the help they need. 

People of all ages, sex, ethnicity, and sexual orientation are affected by suicide. Despite this fact, research shows that certain populations are at higher risk for suicide. Suicide rates are significantly higher in males compared to females. However, this statistic can be misleading because the rate of attempted suicide by women is three times higher than in men. For these reasons, resources for people who have suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or mental health diseases should be accessible to everyone.

               This past Saturday, in an effort to make the Lifeline more accessible, the old number, 1-800-273-8255, was replaced with 988, a new three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to lifesaving services. This change is an opportunity to strengthen and expand the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to save more lives nationwide.

               With the new number, the volume of calls to Lifeline is expected to increase to 7.6 million for the first full year of implementation, twice as many when compared to the 2020 call volume. In order to strengthen network operations and prepare for this increase in volume, over 200 million dollars are planned to be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. Despite this increased funding, sustained state and federal participation will be needed to continue to improve the infrastructure of the Lifeline to meet demand.

               Successfully implementing 988 is a critical first step to combat our mental health crisis. Streamlining access, effectively responding to people in crisis in a timely manner, and providing a coordinated system of care are top priorities of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to address our nation’s long-standing problem with access to mental health crisis services. 

Citations:

“988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 15 July. 2022, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | SAMHSA

Hedegaard, H., Curtin, S.C., & Warner, M. (2021). Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999–2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 398. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:101761.