988 National Mental Health Hotline Receives 2.1 Million Calls Since 2022 Launch

Since the nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline went live on July 16, 2022, it has received 2.1 million contacts in the form of calls, chats, and texts. About 91% of the contacts were answered, and 9% were abandoned by the individual.

The monthly contact volume has hovered around 350,000. About two-thirds of contacts are calls. Since July, the percentage of contacts answered has ranged from 84% in July to 92% in November. These statistics and trends were reported by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) in a series of monthly dashboards.

The 988 Lifeline is a national crisis hotline serving the United States and five major U.S. territories. The 988 number replaces the previous 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. It is administered by Vibrant Emotional Health under two five-year grants valued at $48 million awarded by SAMHSA in July 2021. This funding also supports the national Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), a subnetwork of the Lifeline. Vibrant, in partnership with SAMHSA, has administered the Lifeline since its creation in 2005.

People contacting 988 are not required to provide any personal data to receive services. They can contact 988 for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need support in a mental health crisis due to suicidal ideation, mental health disorders, and/or addiction/substance use. The 988 lifeline also links to the Veterans Crisis Line operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA administers the Veterans Crisis Line through the Lifeline’s national network.

In 2021, the Lifeline received 3.6 million calls, chats, and texts. The number of interactions is expected to at least double within the first full year after the transition to 988 services. The 10-digit Lifeline number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) will continue to be operational after July 16 and will route calls to 988 indefinitely.

SAMHSA reports the 988 Lifeline Performance Metrics in a monthly dashboard at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/performance-metrics (accessed February 9, 2023).

For more information, contact: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; Fax: 240-276-2135; Email: media@samhsa.hhs.gov; Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/performance-metrics