988 Trusted Messenger Study
In a continuation of our formative research about the awareness, perspectives, and current and potential usage of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, this research is specifically focused on the trusted messengers that people turn to for reliable, unbiased information and help when they’re struggling with their mental health or in crisis.
This project, in partnership with Action Alliance and SPRC, and supported by SAMHSA, follows crucial findings released in late 2023 about the public’s awareness, perspectives, and current/potential usage of 988, the national 3-digit hotline for mental health resources and suicide prevention. In the first phase of research, participants indicated that when they’re struggling with their mental health or are in crisis, they most often turn to their spouse/partner, mother, siblings, and friends for help and advice.
This new report and toolkit can be used by anyone seeking to communicate to loved ones that support populations disproportionately impacted by suicide by focusing on the people they turn to most.
Key Data Points
- On 988 awareness among trusted messengers:
-
Approximately half of trusted messengers say they’ve heard of 988. Spouses/partners and friends are more likely to be aware/have heard of and are somewhat familiar with 988 compared to other trusted messenger groups.
- When they’ve heard about it, trusted messengers are most likely to have heard about 988 being available 24/7 and free.
- On 988’s value and usage:
-
Most trusted messengers feel 988 is very/extremely valuable, and the majority would consider using/recommending 988 when their loved one/close connection is struggling or in crisis.
- Trusted messengers want resources to help their loved ones, including:
- Information on who to contact when someone they know is in crisis
- How to start a conversation with someone struggling with their mental health
- How to identify someone struggling with their mental health
- Information about mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.)
- What to do during a panic attack
- How to find and choose a mental health therapist
- Trusted messengers want resources to help their loved ones, including:
- On why/why not they’d consider 988:
-
Of all the reasons to contact 988, trusted messengers would most consider using 988 to learn how to best support their loved one/close connection when they’re struggling or in crisis.
- What would make trusted messengers who are not open to recommending 988 feel more confident in suggesting it to their loved one/close connection?
- Knowing that it’s private/confidential
- Knowing what happens after the conversation ends/how information gathered is used
- Understanding when/why other emergency services are called (i.e., law enforcement, medical services)
- Knowing more about who helps with 988/their credentials/training
- On impactful messaging:
-
Messaging to trusted messengers should specify what 988 is and how it works.
- In awareness efforts to trusted messengers, messaging should focus on:
- What 988 will provide (resources for both the loved one/close connection and the messenger)
- How the process works when calling 988 (who is involved, where information goes, what happens after the call ends)
- Reassurances that information is confidential, available 24/7, and involves medical and legal services if their loved one is in imminent danger
- In awareness efforts to trusted messengers, messaging should focus on:
Related Content
