988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Data Access & Requests to Collaborate on Research (L-DAC)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) welcomes requests to collaborate on research projects with the goal of preventing suicides and mental health crises, and providing a pathway to well-being. We take each inquiry for 988 Lifeline data and research project collaboration seriously as we work to preserve our values, which include the ultimate benefit of crisis contacts/crisis centers and avoidance of any potential harm to them; the preservation of network operations; and a commitment to include a diverse range of voices and experiences in our work.
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 of crisis center staff and/or individuals in crisis
- Surveys, interviews, or focus groups with crisis center staff/individuals in crisis.
- Clinical or behavioral interventions with crisis center staff/individuals in crisis.
Formal evaluations of the 988 Lifeline conducted by university-based researchers 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.
Selected 988 Lifeline data regarding the number of individuals served through national telephone, chat, and text support is available online 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 present year. Additionally, the 988 Lifeline has state and nation-based monthly reports dating back to July 2021. We encourage researchers to review these data and its potential utility for research projects before requesting restricted-access data. Please also note that 988 Lifeline staff are unable to provide technical or analytical support with regards to these data.
The 988 RAD is a de-identified, time-series dataset composed of variables pertaining to 988 Lifeline calls, chats, and texts. These data will be available by request for users meeting certain eligibility criteria and are considered restricted because they contain more detailed information than what is available publicly. There are important considerations for researchers working with 988 RAD, and data should be treated with utmost care in order to avoid misinterpreting information, and/or identifying individuals served by the 988 Lifeline. Through the proposal application process detailed below, Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) will evaluate the applicant’s ability to adhere to good research practices and conduct the proposed analyses/project.
There are no costs to apply for the research process or access the dataset. Please note that Vibrant has limited capacity to provide technical and analytical support with 988 RAD.
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 as of March 1, 2024. 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 Restricted Access Data (RAD).
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 in a timely manner according to the type of proposal received. 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 position held as part of their official research responsibilities.
- The research much have an intended public health impact, and should contribute to the understanding and ultimate prevention of suicide and mental health crises.
- If the research will be linked with any other data that could potentially identify individuals who contacted the 988 Lifeline, the 988 Lifeline must receive a signed copy of the requester’s IRB approval. If the IRB application is still in progress, please indicate as such.
- The requester must be willing to sign a data sharing agreement with Vibrant Emotional Health. 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.
This depends on the type of request. Vibrant adheres to a quarterly review process (see figure above) and therefore, each application submitted within a given quarter will be reviewed in the subsequent 5-6 weeks after the end of each quarter due date. 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. All other data must be requested. Below are links to current publicly available 988 data.
Vibrant’s Research Review Committee is charged with evaluating proposals. The review committee will assess the following when considering whether to approve the proposed project:
- Compliance 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 in a subsequent quarterly review period.
- Requests have a clear public health impact, and the research question can be feasibly answered through use of the requested data or project collaboration.
- The requesters have adequate qualifications and experience (themselves or through a mentor) to carry out the research.
The review committee may also seek guidance from the internal Data Governance Council and other relevant teams to ensure the safety and confidentiality of those who contract the 988 Lifeline.
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 may contact us if you need assistance determining the center(s) closest to you (or if your study spans numerous geographical areas). Please contact us at research@vibrant.org.