The story

Small fees added to monthly phone bills are helping fund 988 suicide prevention crisis lines in 12 states, according to a new study. The fees are about 30 cents per line per month. Money devoted to 988 doubled in states that had enacted such fees compared to those which had not, researchers found.

State funding for suicide prevention and mental health crisis services rose overall from an average of $1.05 per resident in 2021 to $6.55 in 2025, the study showed. The proportion of state budgets devoted to these crisis services also rose, from 0.022% to 0.079% over those years. Most states fund these centers through state budget appropriations rather than phone bill fees.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline debuted in 2022, and recent research suggests it is helping reduce suicide rates. Callers who dial 988 are routed to trained responders at call centers in every state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 48,824 individuals died by suicide in the United States in 2024.