New research in JAMA found that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was associated with an 11% reduction in suicide deaths among U.S. young adults and teens compared with what researchers expected without the program during the first two-and-a-half years of operation. The study estimates nearly 4,400 fewer deaths than projected between July 2022 and December 2024. Authors analyzed nationwide death certificate records and modeled counterfactual suicide mortality, then compared states with the biggest call-volume increases after launch. Researchers reported larger-than-expected gaps in expected vs. actual deaths in those high-call states. While the authors cautioned they cannot prove 988 was the only cause, they said the results align with prior evidence on crisis counseling benefits and underscore the program’s measurable impact even as funding challenges remain.