988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Data Access & Requests to Collaborate on Research (L-DAC)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) may accept requests to collaborate on research projects with the goal of better understanding and preventing suicide. Research requests will be considered based on the ultimate benefits to crisis centers and/or help seekers, the avoidance of any potential harm to them, and the preservation of network operations
Research includes any form of systematic investigation (e.g., research development, studies/testing, evaluation) that is designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge.
988 Lifeline projects considered to be requests for data/research collaborations may include any of the following:
- Requests for call, chat, and/or text record information, crisis center practices, crisis center staffing information, etc.
- Data collections involving crisis center staff and/or help- seekers
- Surveys, interviews, or focus groups with crisis center staff/help seekers.
- Clinical or behavioral interventions with crisis center staff/help seekers
Formal evaluations of the 988 Lifeline conducted by university-based researchers or research institutions have also collected various 988 Lifeline data in the past. These evaluations have been central to improving the quality of 988 Lifeline’s service for nearly two decades, as well as establishing standards of effective care for crisis hotlines nationally and internationally. All of the research and evaluations conducted in collaboration with the 988 Lifeline follow strict data protocols established by the research institutions and as reviewed by Institutional Review Boards.
Selected 988 Lifeline data regarding the number of individuals served through national telephone, chat, and text support is available to the public online and may be used for research purposes. These performance metrics include information on the number of calls, chats, and texts routed, answered, and abandoned, average speed of answer time, and average contact time, on a monthly basis for the years 2022 (starting in July) to the present year. Additionally, the 988 Lifeline has state-based and nationwide monthly reports dating back to July 2021. We encourage researchers to review these data and their potential utility for research projects before requesting data that is not available to the public. Please also note that 988 Lifeline staff are unable to provide technical or analytical support with regard to these data.
There has been a large increase in interest in working with 988 Lifeline data. As we work to process this increased workload, we are temporarily pausing the proposal process for 988 Lifeline data as of March 1, 2024. However, the 988 Lifeline may still be able to collaborate on other projects (e.g., new data collections and other types of collaborations), and/or consult with researchers on their crisis-line related research. Further information will be posted here when available.
We are currently accepting proposals for new data collections and collaborations. We are not currently accepting proposals for 988 Lifeline data.
To apply, you will need to submit a Research Proposal Form. Please prepare the following documents (to be uploaded using our form).
- Cover Letter on institutional/organizational letterhead
- Abstract (no longer than 350 words)
- Biosketch(es) for all staff who will have access to data
- Letter of Recommendation (for students only)
- Letter of support (for grant-funded applications only)
Proposals may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed 4-6 weeks from receipt. More details regarding this process are provided below. Please note that submitting a proposal does not guarantee access to data or approval to collaborate on a research project. We highly recommend reading all of the details below for research planning purposes. Receipt of submission will be confirmed by Vibrant.
- Requests must be for research purposes only (e.g., not for commercial or other purposes).
- There are no restrictions on degrees earned (undergraduate and graduate-level students, including PhD candidates, are eligible to apply – please visit Vibrant’s FAQ below regarding special instructions for student proposals).
- Non-student requests must be from independent researchers holding a faculty appointment or research position at their institution, or a position within a research department or office within a larger organization or community organization. Per the CDC, research organizations can include institutes of higher education, government agencies, research foundations, and non-profit research institutions.
- Independent research institutes that have close relationships with large institutions (e.g., universities) but are not part of the institution and operate under their own authority. Research includes conducting studies/producing reports with the intention to contribute to generalizable knowledge. Research organizations focus on conducting research and/or routinely conduct research.
- Local, county, tribal, and state government employees are eligible to apply regardless of degrees earned or research positions held as part of their official research responsibilities.
- The research must have an intended public health impact and should contribute to the understanding and ultimate prevention of suicide and mental health crises.
- The 988 Lifeline must receive a signed copy of the requester’s IRB review outcome. If the IRB application is still in progress, please indicate it as such.
- The requester must be willing to sign a(n) agreement(s) with Vibrant Emotional Health (if applicable). Additionally, the requester must be willing to involve members of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Research & Evaluation team in any publications and/or products that arise from the research.
FAQ
Yes, Vibrant accepts requests from students. Student proposals must be accompanied by a Letter of Recommendation from a research mentor (the mentor must serve as the principal investigator). The letter should speak to the student’s capability to execute the proposed research and the mentor’s experience with supervising similar projects and capacity to support this student project.
If the application is time-sensitive (e.g., needed for a grant application), the applicant should indicate such on Vibrant’s forms. Vibrant will aim to provide a review and decision within 4-6 weeks of submission.
Vibrant shares a number of data publicly. Below are links to the current publicly available 988 data.
Vibrant is currently working to develop standardized datasets and will update on the contents of these datasets.
Proposals will be evaluated to ensure the safety and confidentiality of help seekers. Additionally, proposals should:
- Comply with the above eligibility criteria and proposal instructions. If proposals do not pass an initial compliance check, they will be denied. Revisions can be completed, resubmitted, and reviewed.
- Have a clear public health impact, and the research question can be feasibly answered through the use of the requested data or project collaboration.
- Be led by investigators who have adequate qualifications and experience (themselves or through a mentor) to carry out the research.
Please contact the Vibrant Communications team at communications@vibrant.org.
When 988 Lifeline funding becomes available for specific research & evaluation projects, we will post RFPs online at this page, and through other advertisement outlets. We are also able to work with investigators who receive funding from their primary institution, or whose projects are grant-funded.
The 988 Lifeline does not promote external research projects. We are unable to provide assistance to external researchers for the recruitment of research participants to their studies.
Anyone can use or promote 988 Lifeline services. In the case that your research study would like to list 988 Lifeline information for an adverse events protocol, it is best to provide the contact information of your local crisis center(s). You can find your local center here.