Latest news with #VeteransCrisisLine
Medscape
15 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
988 Lifeline Early Years Marked by Underuse, Regional Divide
TOPLINE: The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received more than 16 million contacts from 2022 to 2024 but remained largely underutilized, a new study showed. Additionally, its use was uneven across US regions, with the highest reported in the West and lowest in the South. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using comprehensive monthly state-level data on 988 contacts, including calls, texts, and chats. The data were obtained from Vibrant Emotional Health for the 30-month period between its launch in July 2022 and the end of 2024. Lifetime and past-year incidence rates of 988 contacts were calculated per 1000 population at national, US Census region, and state levels. Prevalence estimates were adjusted for assumed repeat contact rates. TAKEAWAY: Of the 16,333,707 nationwide contacts received by the lifeline from 2022 to 2024, 70% were phone calls, 18% texts, and 12% chats; 11% of contacts were rerouted to the Veterans Crisis Line. The national lifetime incidence rate of lifeline contacts was 48.9 per 1000 population, and the estimated lifetime prevalence of use was 2.4%. The national past-year incidence rate of contacts was 23.7 per 1000 population, and the estimated past-year prevalence was 1.6%. The past-year incidence rate of lifeline contacts was highest in western states (27.1 per 1000 population) and lowest in southern states (20 per 1000 population), with prevalence estimates of 1.8% vs 1.3%. Alaska had the highest past-year incidence rate (45.3 per 1000 population), whereas Delaware had the lowest rate (12.5 per 1000 population). IN PRACTICE: 'The past-year 988 contact rate of 23.7 per 1000 is less than half that of the rate of adult emergency department visits that include a mental health diagnosis (53.0 per 1000 population),' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, NYU School of Global Public Health, New York City. It was published online on June 09 in JAMA Network Open. LIMITATIONS: Lifeline contacts were assigned on the basis of area codes or self-reported zip codes, which may not have accurately reflected users' locations. This study was also limited by assumptions about repeat contact rates and possibly by the existence of other crisis lines operating at the state level. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. One investigator reported receiving grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the National Institute of Mental Health and personal fees from Pew Charitable Trusts outside the submitted work. The other investigators reported no relevant financial disclosures. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Axios
4 days ago
- Health
- Axios
Texans are among the nation's lowest 988 users
Texas ranks 46th nationwide for 988 calls per capita, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: Use of the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline remains uneven nationwide. The service was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis — but gaps persist. Driving the news: The service received 18.5 contacts per 1,000 Texans in 2024, per new research published in JAMA Network Open. Alaska (45.3 contacts per 1,000 people), Vermont (40.2) and New York (38.8) had the highest 988 contact rates among states in 2024. Delaware (12.5), Alabama (14.4) and Florida (15.6) had the lowest. The big picture: The 988 service fielded more than 16.3 million calls, texts and chats between July 2022 and the end of 2024. The national contact rate was 48.9 per 1,000 people during that period, and 23.7 in 2024 alone. How it works: "Contacts" include all calls, texts and chats sent to 988, including those forwarded along to more specific services, like the Veterans Crisis Line and the LGBTQ+ Line. Geography for calls and chats was assigned based on users' phone numbers, while texts were assigned by ZIP codes shared during pre-chat surveys. What they're saying: Several factors may be contributing to the state and regional differences in 988 use, says study author Jonathan Purtle, associate professor and director of policy research at New York University's School of Global Public Health. That includes differences in how 988 is being advertised by states and cities, as well as political attitudes. Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling. And surveys have found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to use 988, Purtle says: "We see this shake out in the map — in the South and more right-leaning places, we see lower volume." Caveat: Less populous states have more variability due to their relatively smaller sample sizes, Purtle notes.
Axios
13-06-2025
- Health
- Axios
Where the 988 mental health hotline is used most — and least
Use of the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline remains uneven across states, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: The service was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis — but gaps persist. Driving the news: Alaska (45.3 contacts per 1,000 people), Vermont (40.2) and New York (38.8) had the highest 988 contact rates among states in 2024, per new research published in JAMA Network Open. Delaware (12.5), Alabama (14.4) and Florida (15.6) had the lowest. The big picture: The 988 service fielded more than 16.3 million calls, texts and chats between July 2022 and the end of 2024. The national contact rate was 48.9 per 1,000 people during that period, and 23.7 in 2024 alone. How it works: "Contacts" include all calls, texts and chats sent to 988, including those forwarded along to more specific services, like the Veterans Crisis Line and the LGBTQ+ Line. Geography for calls and chats was assigned based on users' phone numbers, while texts were assigned by ZIP codes shared during pre-chat surveys. What they're saying: Several factors may be contributing to the state and regional differences in 988 use, says study author Jonathan Purtle, associate professor and director of policy research at New York University's School of Global Public Health. That includes differences in how 988 is being advertised by states and cities, as well as political attitudes. Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling. And surveys have found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to use 988, Purtle says: "We see this shake out in the map — in the South and more right-leaning places, we see lower volume." Caveat: Less populous states have more variability due to their relatively smaller sample sizes, Purtle notes. The latest: The Trump administration's proposed Health and Human Services budget would cut 988 services specifically tailored for LGBTQ+ youth, Axios' Avery Lotz reports. What's next: Last year's nationwide 988 contact rate was less than half the rate of adult emergency room visits related to mental health, the analysis finds, despite ERs' cost and access issues.
Newsweek
09-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
VA Marks Benefits Milestone For Veterans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that its mobile app has now accumulated more than 3 million downloads since its launch in 2021. The Health and Benefits app, which has 1.4 million active users, provides veterans access to information on health care and benefits. It allows users to refill and track VA prescriptions, review appointments, review claims and appeals status, submit evidence for claims and appeals, review VA payment and direct deposit information, locate the closest VA facilities, access the Veterans Crisis Line and show proof of Veteran status. VA Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Acting Chief Information Officer Eddie Pool said: "VA's Health and Benefits app gives Veterans fast and convenient access to a host of important information, from appointments to prescriptions and benefits. We encourage all VA-enrolled Veterans to stay connected and informed by downloading the app." File photo: the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington. File photo: the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington. Charles Dharapak/AP This story will be updated.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Veterans Affairs' health, benefits app passes 3 million downloads
June 6 (UPI) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs' Health and Benefits mobile app has achieved more than 3 million downloads, or nearly 20% of all veterans, since its launch in 2021. The app has 1.4 million active users, according to an agency news release Friday on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, which was the Allies' amphibious invasion of German-occupied France. The app provides veterans access to healthcare and benefits information from their mobile phones, and features fingerprint and face recognition. Users can refill and track VA prescriptions, review appointments, review claims and appeals status, submit evidence for claims and appeals, review VA payment and direct deposit information, locate the closest VA facilities, access the Veterans Crisis Line and show proof of veteran status. "We encourage all VA-enrolled Veterans to stay connected and informed by downloading the app," Eddie Pool, acting assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and acting chief information officer, said in a news release. In all, there are 15.8 million veterans, which represents 6.1% of the civilian population 18 year and older. Of those, 7.8 million served in the Gulf War era between 1990 and now, 5.6 million during the Vietnam era from 1950 to 1073, 767,000 during the Korean conflict in the 1940s and 1950s, and less than 120,000 World War II veterans, according to Pew Research in 2023. As of 2023, 78% of veterans served during wartime. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs approximately 482,000 people, including 500,000 workers at 170 hospitals and 1,200 local clinics in the nation's largest health care system. Like with other agencies, the agency is being downsized with plans to cut 83,000 jobs.
