LANSING, Mich. (WOWO)— Four years after the nationwide launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a new University of Michigan survey suggests many middle-aged and older adults still are not aware the free mental health resource exists.
The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 31% of adults age 50 and older said they had never heard of any mental health crisis hotline, highlighting what researchers say is a significant awareness gap for a service designed to provide immediate support during mental health emergencies.
Since the 988 lifeline launched nationwide in 2022, Americans have called or texted the service approximately 26 million times, connecting people experiencing mental health crises with trained counselors 24 hours a day…