Public Attitudes, Inequities, and Polarization in the Launch of the 988 Lifeline

Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in 2020, establishing 988 as a three-digit mental health crisis line. A survey of 5,482 U.S. adults found low awareness (25%) but high support (75%) for the service. The study, however, identified disparities in the support for and use of the lifeline. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to increase public awareness and understanding of the crisis line.