Center for Policy Research
Policy Brief
Why Aren’t More People Calling 988 for Mental Health Crises?
Michiko Ueda, Colleen M. Heflin, Yanhong Liu, Qingyi Yu, and Seethalakshmi Ramanathan
C.P.R. Policy Brief No. 21
October 2025
When someone is in a mental health crisis, calling 911 has long been the default response. However, 911 call centers are not well-equipped to handle mental health emergencies, and law enforcement dispatch can result in unnecessary arrests, hospitalizations, or crisis escalation. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in 2022 is a free, confidential alternative, yet awareness remains low and misconceptions persist.
This brief summarizes findings from a study that surveyed nearly 1,900 U.S. adults and found that only 22% knew about 988. Even more striking: nearly 9 in 10 people had concerns about using it, and many of those concerns are based on misconceptions. The authors recommend expanded public education campaigns and targeted outreach to address these barriers.
CPR Policy Briefs present concise summaries of findings from recent research conducted by CPR affiliates in the areas of crime and the law, economic wellbeing and poverty, education, energy and the environment, families, health, public finance, social welfare, urban and regional economics, and other policy-relevant domains.
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