The story
- A study published in JAMA by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that youth suicide deaths fell 11% below projections in the two and a half years after the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in July 2022.
- That percentage translates to approximately 4,372 fewer deaths than would have been expected based on historical trends among Americans aged 15 to 34.
- The study found a clear dose-response pattern: the 10 states with the largest increases in 988 call volume — including Virginia, New York, and Indiana — saw an 18.2% drop in suicides versus projections. States with lower call uptake still saw an 11% reduction.
- Contacts to the 988 Lifeline have more than doubled since launch, reaching nearly 655,000 per month as of May 2025, driven largely by younger callers.
- "This is one of those rare moments in public health where we can say that something might actually be working," said lead author Dr. Vishal Patel of Brigham and Women's Hospital.
- The findings come as 988 faces funding uncertainty, with advocates pointing to the results as evidence that sustained investment is essential.
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The 988 program is one of the largest federal investments in suicide prevention in U.S. history — and our findings suggest that investment has translated into measurable reductions in young adult suicide deaths.
— Dr. Vishal Patel, Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's Hospital
Sources