Overview
Since 2001, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) has been evaluating and strengthening best practices for crisis helplines through an iterative process (read further in the publications below). In recent years, the 988 Lifeline has also partnered with external researchers on analyses of 988 Lifeline data to better understand trends in helpline utilization. The 988 Lifeline accepts opportunities to collaborate on research projects with the goal of preventing suicides and mental health crises and providing a pathway to well-being.
Learn more about the process for collaborating with the 988 Lifeline on a research project.
Previous Studies
Examples of previous collaborations with researchers and other helpful documents related to our work can be found below (all publications are open access)
Support for Suicidal Individuals (PDF) (September 2018)
- The Return on Investment of Postdischarge Follow-up Calls for Suicidal Ideation or Deliberate Self-Harm (August 2014)
- Helping Callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Who Are at Imminent Risk of Suicide: The Importance of Active Engagement, Active Rescue, and Collaboration Between Crisis and Emergency Services (October 2014)
- An Evaluation of Crisis Hotline Outcomes Part 1: Nonsuicidal Crisis Callers (December 2010)
- An Evaluation of Crisis Hotline Outcomes Part 2: Suicidal Callers (December 2010)
- Comparing Models of Helper Behavior to Actual Practice in Telephone Crisis Intervention: A Silent Monitoring Study of Calls to the U.S. 1-800-SUICIDE Network (December 2010)
- Which Helper Behaviors and Intervention Styles Are Related to Better Short-term Outcomes in Telephone Crisis Intervention? Results from a Silent Monitoring Study of Calls to the 1-800-SUICIDE Network (December 2010)
- Establishing Standards for the Assessment of Suicide Risk Among Callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (December 2010)