988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been up and running for a year, but few Americans know about it; here are details

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, but it doesn't have to be. Getting the word out about the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is one way to change that sobering statistic. Launched in July 2022, the Lifeline operates 200 call centers, but many people don't know about it. Dr. Emmy Betz, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado, "discusses the critical need to raise awareness about 988," with details on how the resource works. SciLine's Q & A with Dr. Betz for The Conversation, a journalistic platform for academics, is edited below.

Who should call 988, and when? 988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline. I want to really emphasize it's not just for suicide. It's for anyone who's experiencing substance abuse, mental health crisis, emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. You can call for yourself. You can call for someone in your family or a friend. It's available 24/7, and it's free and confidential.

What are some prevention strategies for firearm suicides? In Colorado, 73% of our gun deaths are by suicide. It's a critical problem in our state. And these deaths are preventable. Suicide typically occurs in the context of some kind of crisis, whether it's related to a job, a recent breakup with a romantic partner, or something else. Prevention is all about getting people through that high-risk period to get the treatment or resources they need.

We know that if a person uses a firearm in a suicide attempt, about 90% of the time, they die. So my work and the work of our initiative really focuses on how we can reduce firearm access when someone is in that high-risk period.

It's not about confiscation. It's not about legislation. It's about engaging with communities, educating communities and educating health care providers about what we can do to reduce firearm access – specifically, encouraging people to take steps to lock up guns differently, such as changing the locks or changing the password so the at-risk person can't access the gun.

There are things we can do that don't conflict with views on Second Amendment rights. . . . . When someone has a suicide risk, it can be a good idea to move firearms out of the home temporarily. We've been working with gun ranges, retailers and other locations that offer voluntary and temporary firearm storage as a solution for people – to make the home safer while someone's getting better.

What is suicide contagion, and what should journalists know about covering suicide without contributing to it? Suicide contagion is the phenomenon whereby hearing about one suicide – in particular, the methods – leads to additional individuals attempting or dying by suicide using the same methods. . . . It's really important that journalists talk about suicide, and that we raise awareness, and we get these messages out. . . . There are guidelines from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other large organizations that really spell out best practices for journalists.

What are warning signs that a person is thinking about suicide? The main thing to look out for is if someone says that they've lost hope or that they aren't looking towards the future anymore. . . . It's OK to ask. If you're ever worried that someone might be having thoughts of suicide, it's fine to ask them directly. You're not going to prompt suicidal thoughts by asking that question.

Can you share some statistics about suicide in the U.S.? What about youth suicide?
Suicide is the 12th-leading cause of death among all ages. . . . In 2021, there were 48,000 suicide deaths in the U.S., about one every 11 minutes. Suicide rates among youth have increased. Between 2011 and 2021, suicide rates for youth rose 60%. Particularly concerning are increases in suicide rates among young individuals of color, where there have traditionally been lower suicide rates.

Watch the full interview to hear more about the 988 hotline and suicide prevention. SciLine is a free service at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a nonprofit that helps journalists include scientific evidence and experts in their news stories.