Nearly 4,400 fewer U.S. teens and young adults died by suicide than projected in the first two-and-a-half years of the 988 mental health crisis hotline. A study published Wednesday in JAMA finds the latest evidence of the program’s value. It comes even as the program faces long-term funding challenges and as its specialized service for LGBTQ+ youth awaits restoration. Advocates say the research illustrates the lifesaving power of 988 and the need for states to fully fund the program.
