988 Suicide Hotline Linked to 11 Percent Drop in Youth Suicides, JAMA Study Finds
A study published in JAMA on April 22, 2026, found that the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is linked to an 11 percent reduction in suicides among people aged 15 to 34. States with the highest 988 usage saw an 18 percent drop. The hotline has handled more than 25 million contacts since launching in 2022.
A study published in JAMA on April 22, 2026, found that the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is associated with a significant reduction in suicides among young people in the United States.
Researchers examined suicide deaths from July 2022 through December 2024. They found that deaths among individuals aged 15 to 34 were approximately 11 percent lower than expected based on past trends. That translates to 4,372 fewer deaths than projected.
States with the highest increases in 988 usage saw an 18.2 percent drop in suicides compared to predictions. States with the lowest usage saw a 10.6 percent decline.
The 988 hotline launched in July 2022 as a three-digit alternative to the longer National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. Since its launch, it has responded to more than 25 million calls, texts, and chats.
Researchers say the data suggests the hotline has contributed to a measurable reduction in deaths at the population level for young people. They caution that the study cannot prove causation but say the correlation is strong.
The findings come as the Trump administration signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, titled Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness. The order directs the FDA to prioritize review of psychedelic drugs that have received Breakthrough Therapy designations for serious mental illnesses.
The order also allocates at least $50 million through ARPA-H to support state programs advancing psychedelic treatments. It directs the FDA and DEA to establish a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs under the Right to Try Act.
More than 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, according to the executive order. Veterans experience suicide rates more than twice that of the non-veteran adult population.
Mental health advocates say both the 988 data and the new executive order represent meaningful steps, though they note that access to care remains uneven across income levels and geographic areas.
