A recent University of Michigan survey reveals that nearly one-third of adults 50 and older have not heard of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free mental health resource that provides immediate support during mental health emergencies.
The Importance of Awareness
The survey highlights a significant awareness gap for a service that has been used approximately 26 million times since its nationwide launch in 2022. Increasing awareness of the resource could save lives by helping people receive immediate support during mental health emergencies, potentially reducing suicides, overdoses, and other crises.
According to the survey, older adults are more likely to seek help from people they already know before contacting the national crisis line. The 988 lifeline provides immediate access to trained crisis counselors by phone or text at any time of day or night, which is a key benefit for those in need of mental health support.
The poll also found differences in awareness among demographic groups, with men and adults of Hispanic heritage being less likely to say they had heard of at least one mental health crisis line. Researchers emphasize that improving public awareness remains an important goal as communities continue working to expand access to mental health care and crisis intervention services.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
