Story perspectives

Youth Suicides Down 11% After 988 Hotline Launch

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

A JAMA study found an 11 percent decline in youth suicides after the 988 hotline launch.
Researchers estimated 4,372 fewer suicides among 15-to-34-year-olds between July 2022 and December 2024.
Suicides fell 18.2 percent in ten states with the biggest rise in 988 calls and 10.6 percent in ten states with the smallest rise.
The federal government has invested $1.5 billion to expand crisis-center staff since the rollout and seeks $534.6 million for 2027 after the hotline logged over 25 million contacts.

1 of 1

Story summary

A JAMA study found an 11 percent decline in youth suicides after the 988 hotline launch.
Researchers estimated 4,372 fewer suicides among 15-to-34-year-olds between July 2022 and December 2024.
Suicides fell 18.2 percent in ten states with the biggest rise in 988 calls and 10.6 percent in ten states with the smallest rise.
The federal government has invested $1.5 billion to expand crisis-center staff since the rollout and seeks $534.6 million for 2027 after the hotline logged over 25 million contacts.