Crisis lifeline makes impact

UF Health Podcasts

More than 10 million texts, calls, and chats in just two years.

The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which launched in July 2022, has had quite an impact.

In 2022, suicide deaths reached a record high in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The change to a three-digit number, instead of its 10-digit predecessor, led to a 45% increase in people reaching out in the lifeline’s first month.

Mental health is a priority for many Americans. A recent poll from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 3 in 4 Americans say they are not content with mental health treatment in the United States.

When someone calls 9-8-8, the caller first hears a greeting message with options to connect with specialized services. They are then routed to a national network or local network crisis center. A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, works to understand the problem, and shares resources. Similarly, users can get care by texting 9-8-8, which has become an increasingly popular option, along with digital chats.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ hotline has made 110,000 contacts in Spanish and 475,000 with LGBTQI+ youth and young adults this year, the federal agency reports. About 20,000 videophone contacts were made in American Sign Language, and 1.2 million calls were answered by the Veterans Crisis Line through 9-8-8.

Studies show that speaking with a trained crisis counselor makes callers feel more hopeful while reducing feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide.

Ten million is just the start for a resource that saves lives every day. One text or phone call at a time.