Washington ranks 12th in 988 hotline use
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Washington ranks 12th in the U.S. for per capita use of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: Nearly three years after launch, the mental health hotline still sees big usage gaps between states, researchers say.
By the numbers: The service received 29.4 contacts per 1,000 Washingtonians in 2024, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.
- The national contact rate was 23.7 in 2024.
The big picture: The 988 service fielded more than 16.3 million calls, texts and chats between July 2022 and the end of 2024.
Between the lines: Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling.
What's next: Researchers say targeted outreach and consistent promotion could boost 988 use in states with low contact rates.