Colorado's 988 use is high, still calls go unanswered
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Use of the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline remains uneven across states, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: The service was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis — but gaps persist.
Driving the news: Colorado was fourth in the country (36.1 contacts per 1,000 people) in 988 contact rates among states in 2024, per new research published in JAMA Network Open.
- Alaska (45.3 contacts per 1,000 people), Vermont (40.2) and New York (38.8) had the highest rates.
- Delaware (12.5), Alabama (14.4) and Florida (15.6) had the lowest.
What they're saying: Several factors may be contributing 988 use, says study author Jonathan Purtle, associate professor and director of policy research at New York University's School of Global Public Health.
- That includes differences in how 988 is being advertised by states and cities, as well as political attitudes.
- Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling.
- And surveys have found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to use 988, Purtle says: "We see this shake out in the map — in the South and more right-leaning places, we see lower volume."
The latest: The Trump administration's proposed Health and Human Services budget would cut 988 services specifically tailored for LGBTQ+ youth, Axios' Avery Lotz reports.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org. En español.