Suicide Mortality After Launch of the 988 Lifeline

A study showed that the launch of the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was associated with an 11% reduction in suicide deaths among adolescents and young adults, representing 4,372 fewer deaths than expected. This represents the first instance where a telephone-based crisis service with open access achieved mortality reduction at the population level. The article emphasizes the important connection between suicide and substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder. Suicidal ideation occurs in 25-40% of people with opioid use disorder. After an emergency department visit for unintentional opioid overdose, patients have an 18-fold higher risk of suicide death in the following year compared to the general population. Data shows that unintentional drug overdose deaths exceed the number of suicides in the studied age group.