Overview
- A Harvard-led JAMA analysis, published Wednesday, found suicide deaths among 15–34-year-olds were 11% lower than expected from July 2022 through December 2024 after 988 launched, with 35,529 deaths observed versus 39,901 projected.
- States with the biggest jumps in answered 988 calls saw the largest declines, as the top 10 averaged a 146% call increase and an 18% drop in deaths versus projections, compared with about 11% in low-uptake states.
- The study is observational and does not prove causation, and checks found no comparable decline in England and only a smaller reduction among adults 65 and older.
- Researchers and officials warn that sustained access depends on stable funding, as many states lack recurring support even after more than $1.5 billion in federal start-up money and HHS proposed $534.6 million for 2027.
- After a 2025 cut to the specialized “press three” path for LGBTQ+ youth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told senators he is working to restore it, a shift advocates say could better protect a high-risk group that frequently turns to 988.