NIH Awards Grant to Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, to Study Experiences Using 988

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has awarded Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, a professor of public health policy and management at NYU School of Global Public Health, a 4-year, $2.36 million grant (RF1MH145180) to study individual’s experiences using the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.¹

Pilot research conducted in 2023 by Purtle et al found that only 29% of adults with serious psychological distress who used 988 would be very likely to use it in the future. Furthermore, attitudes towards 988 and crisis help seeking vary across demographic groups. Lastly, 83% of adults who experienced and sought help for a crisis in the past year did not reach out to 988.

“Our goal is to generate knowledge that will inform how 988’s services can be improved, as well as how to better market the lifeline to reach those most in need,” said Purtle.

Through the new grant, investigators will use surveys and interviews to collect information from individuals who have used 988, specifically gauging whether certain factors are associated with more positive or negative experiences. They will also study those at higher risk for suicide who may or may not have used 988 to better understand their knowledge of the service, intention to use it, and experience if they did use it. Then the investigators will compare the results with state-level factors, such as how long people wait to connect with someone through 988 and how states finance suicide prevention and crisis mental health services, to examine how these factors might influence people’s overall experience of using 988.

Previous NIMH Grant

Purtle received a previous grant from the NIMH to generate knowledge about the effects of state financing policies on the implementation of 988.² The research was used to inform the implementation of policies that finance the Lifeline and help prevent suicide deaths.

988: From 2022 to Now

On July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline changed from its previous number (800-273-8255) to just 3 digits: 988.³ From its inception in 2005 through 2020, the Lifeline has received 20,478,698 calls⁴; after a year of being in place, 988 received over 5 million contacts, including more than 1.43 million calls, 416,000 chats, and 281,000 texts.⁵ As of March 2026, the volume of calls, texts, and chats is 15% higher than 2025 and nearly 50% higher than 2024, according to estimates.⁶

With the quantity of contacts clearly increasing, this new research from Purtle et al may help pinpoint where the quality of 988 interactions is falling short, finding new ways to best support those in crisis.

References

1. Dr. Jonathan Purtle awarded NIH grant to study experiences using 988. News release. September 9, 2026. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://publichealth.nyu.edu/events-news/news/2026/09/09/dr-jonathan-purtle-awarded-nih-grant-study-experiences-using-988

2. Implementation of the Federal 988 Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Hotline Policy: Determinants and Effects of State Policy Implementation Financing Strategies. NIH. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://reporter.nih.gov/search/7ZRJE6OTkEuDRjdodCpj2A/project-details/11251572

3. Kuntz L. New 988 suicide hotline: hope or hype? Psychiatric Times. 2022;39(7).

4. Suicide prevention by the numbers. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/by-the-numbers/

5. Saunders H. Taking a look at 988 suicide & crisis lifeline implementation. KFF. February 23, 2023. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/taking-a-look-at-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-implementation/

6. Saunders H. 988 enters its fourth year as demand grows and the mental health and substance use landscape shifts. KFF. July 14, 2026. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.kff.org/mental-health/988-enters-its-fourth-year-as-demand-grows-and-the-mental-health-and-substance-use-landscape-shifts/