Survey: Awareness of 988 suicide prevention hotline remains low, but is growing slowly

Two years after the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline telephone number was introduced, only 15% of American adults say they know about it, according to a new national survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (Source: “Awareness of 988 suicide prevention hotline telephone number slowly grows, survey finds,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Dec. 2).
 
However, the number of survey respondents who know about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number rose from 11% in August 2023 to 15% in September of this year, the poll found.
 
The number who inaccurately said the suicide lifeline number was 911 — the nationwide emergency phone number — decreased from 4% in 2023 to 1% in 2024, the Annenberg Center said.
 
According to HPIO’s 2024 Health Value Dashboard, Ohio ranks 20th in suicide deaths compared to other states and D.C.