Department of Health launches 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline data dashboard

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has launched a 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Data Dashboard to increase transparency and help communities, policymakers, and the public better understand how Washington’s crisis response system is serving people in need. The dashboard provides a comprehensive view of 988 Lifeline contact volume, answer rates, trends, geographic patterns, and select contact outcomes.  

The 988 Lifeline connects people experiencing a mental or emotional health crisis, substance use concern, or those seeking help for a loved one with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365 by call, text, or chat.  

"The 988 data dashboard is another milestone in building a more compassionate and accessible crisis response system in Washington," said Michele Roberts, assistant secretary of DOH’s Prevention and Community Health Division. "Increasing visibility and transparency around 988 Lifeline data will help the public understand how people use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and how the system responds to their needs. We believe this data will help communities and decision-makers improve crisis services and strengthen the crisis response system."  

The dashboard includes data from Washington’s 988 contact hubs and Vibrant Emotional Health, the national 988 administrator. It covers calls, texts, and chats received and answered by the contact hubs, along with calls from Department of Corrections facilities and data reported to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It also presents monthly and year-to-date answer rates. 

Compassionate and accessible support in action 

Since the 988 Lifeline launched nationwide in July 2022, it has become an important resource for people experiencing a wide range of crises, including thoughts of suicide, substance use concerns, and other emotional distress. 

In August, the 988 Lifeline received:  

• Calls: 17,969 

• Texts: 4,510 

• Chats: 2,556 

The 988 data dashboard shows the percentage of incoming 988 calls, texts, and chats successfully answered by a trained 988 crisis counselor at one of Washington’s four 988 hubs, out of the total contacts routed to the hub. Washington has implemented three layers of in-state backup, but if a crisis counselor in Washington cannot answer, the help-seeker will be connected to a 988 national backup center. 

Monthly 988 Lifeline data from January through August show the following answer rate trends: 

• Calls: The answer rate stayed consistently high, peaking at 92.8% in July and 92.7% in August. 

• Texts: The answer rate averaged about 81% from January through March, peaked at 91.8% in April, and dropped to 88.8% in August. 

• Chats: The answer rate averaged about 80% from January through June and rose to 88.1% in August. 

“The number of contacts and the answer rate show that people in Washington know about the 988 Lifeline and trust this service can help support them in their greatest moments of need,” said Lonnie Peterson, 988 crisis systems manager. “We are excited to share this data with the public so everyone can see how the work of our DOH team and Washington’s 988 contact hubs have made a difference in our state.” 

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