A new KFF analysis examines the latest data on usage of the 988 number for the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline, two years after its launch in July 2022. Since launch, 988 has received 10.8 million combined calls, texts, and chats.
KFF analysis of federal data shows that, in May 2024, monthly contacts (calls, texts, and chats) exceeded half a million, up about one-third from a year ago and 80% since May 2022. State-level call volume and in-state answer rates vary widely across states, though monthly call volumes have increased in all states.
The 988 line steers callers who are suicidal or experiencing a behavioral health crisis to the renamed “988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline,” through which they can be connected to a local Lifeline counselor and may receive crisis counseling, resources, and referrals. Before 988, the Lifeline crisis hotline–established in 2005–was typically accessed through a 10-digit number, which was difficult for callers experiencing a mental health crisis to recall.
