Pennsylvania struggles to connect with 988 crisis line
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Pennsylvania ranks 31st in the nation for 988 calls, texts and chats per capita, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: Public awareness of the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline is growing, but remains low.
The big picture: The service was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis.
By the numbers: The 988 service reported 20.9 contacts per 1,000 Pennsylvanians in 2024, per new research published in JAMA Network Open.
- That's lower than the national contact rate of 23.7 in 2024.
How it works: "Contacts" include all calls, texts and chats sent to 988, including those forwarded along to more specific services, like the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Pennsylvania has 12 call centers. Calls are routed to a local center based on the caller's area code, per state health officials.
What they're saying: Several factors may be contributing to state and regional differences in 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 advertised by states and cities, as well as political attitudes.
- Surveys have found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to use 988, Purtle says.
The latest: SAMHSA will end the 988 Lifeline's "Press 3" LGBTQ+ youth option in July, which connected callers directly to counselors from The Trevor Project.
What we're watching: Pennsylvania House Bill 564 would launch a statewide public awareness campaign for 988 through the Department of Human Services.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org. En español.