The Outcome Matters

So it has been 39 months since the launch of 988 (see U.S. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Is Live As Of July 16, 2022). The question for most public policy analysts—at both the national and state level—is has the crisis line made a difference?

That question was answered in a new report—Behavioral Health Crisis System Outcomes And Information Technology, 2025. For consumers calling/texting the support line, 61% required warm support only and did not need or desire a referral to community services. For those requiring follow-up, 4.9% resulted in the dispatch of . . .