A study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the rate of suicide in Connecticut and eight other states dropped by 18% since 2022.
The study attributed the decrease to the creation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 support is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), but United Way of Connecticut answers calls in the state and featured the decrease in a press release on May 28.
988 is a three-digit crisis line, similar to 911. When people call, they are put in contact with a crisis contact specialist. Before the 988 hotline, SAMHSA had a 10-digit suicide hotline number.
“Every life saved represents hope and demonstrates the power of personal connection in a moment of need. Preventing suicide is a core goal of Connecticut’s Health and Human Services State agencies, and we are encouraged to see data showing that 988 is making a meaningful difference for Connecticut residents,” said Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Nancy Navarretta in the press release.
A disproportionate number of adolescents and young adults use this hotline, the study found. Nationwide, the creation of the hotline is associated with an 11% decrease in suicide deaths among people ages 15 to 34 years old, according to the press release.
On average, in Connecticut, 16 minors a day seek treatment at hospitals’ emergency departments for suicidal ideation or attempts, according to the most recent annual report from the Office of the Child Advocate. In the summer of 2024, 10 kids ages 13 to 17 killed themselves.
The study from JAMA found that the states with the highest uptake of 988 calls experienced an 18% reduction in observed versus expected suicides among this age group, according to the study. In Connecticut specifically, there was 350% increase in the number of crisis calls since 2022.
In the fiscal year of 2025, 988 CT responded to more than 55,000 calls. Between January 1 and April 30 of this year, 988 CT also responded to 3,353 chats and texts. One-fifth of them were from people under the age of 18.
“Our Contact Specialists do heroic work every day: they meet each caller where they are, taking the time to understand each person’s needs, de-escalate the crisis and develop a stabilizing path forward,” Senior Vice President of 211 Health and Human Services at United Way of Connecticut, Tanya Barrett, said in the press release. “Often, this involves helping a caller to build a plan to reconnect to their existing supports, or to connect with new resources that can help.”
According to the press release, more than 95% of callers in Connecticut report that “their state of crisis diminished during their call.” Less than 1% of calls this past year required either a contact specialist or a caller to call 911 for an active rescue or an emergency medical response.
“We are proud of the work of 988 CT and grateful to our partners who help ensure that people across our state know they are not alone, help is available, and recovery is possible,” said Navarretta.
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