Older adults are unaware of 9-8-8 helpline, study finds

Note: The following story mentions suicide. 

The National Poll on Healthy Aging recently surveyed adults 50 and up to find out whether they use the 9-8-8 helpline. 

The survey found 31%of older adults never heard of the mental health crisis helpline.

“Another 38% had not heard of 988, but had heard of other mental health crisis lines, things like the Trevor Project or the Veterans Crisis Line,” says Kevin Saulnier, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor with the University of Michigan.

Saulnier says the survey also found that men were less aware and less likely to use 9-8-8 for mental health crises.

Saulnier says many adults 50 and up depend on other sources of assistance.

“So the majority of people said that in the case of a mental health crisis, they would reach out to family or friends, with 83% of people. Saying that they would be likely to take that approach, 82% said they would be likely to contact their regular healthcare provider,” he shares.

Another 73% say they would reach out to a mental health care professional directly, rather than using the helpline.

Saulnier says the helpline can fill a gap in service by providing counselors on call 24/7, all year long.

While the helpline can be an effective resource for people going through a mental health crisis, people can face barriers to access.

“Barriers to 988 awareness and 988 use might be greater in places with less access to mental health professionals, or limited internet, transportation challenges, or fewer trusted points of access to care,” says Saulnier.

According to Saulnier, the free confidential helpline works with trained mental health professionals to provide mostly talk therapy. However, they do work with crisis intervention teams or emergency responders in the case of suicide or serious concerns.

He also says people can call anonymously for themselves or others by calling or texting 9-8-8 or using the chat feature on the website 988lifeline.org.