Work

Preferred Sources For Suicide Prevention And Crisis Services Among Segments Of The US Adult Population

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Recent policy initiatives such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline aim to increase the use of crisis services. We conducted a probability survey of 5,006 US adults in 2023 and used latent class analysis to identify population segments that vary in crisis help-seeking preferences. We identified five segments: "Seek Help Nowhere," "Definitely Not 988, Yes Friends And Family-Distressed," "Seek Help Everywhere," "Seek Help Most Places, But Not Religious Network," and "Relatively Indifferent-Not Distressed." Having serious prior-thirty-day psychological distress was positively associated with membership in the Definitely Not 988 segment and was negatively associated with the Relatively Indifferent segment. Respondents who were not aware of the 988 Lifeline were more likely to be in the Seek Help Nowhere and Definitely Not 988 segments. Political party affiliation was associated with membership in all segments. Communication campaigns that encourage the use of crisis services and help seeking may consider tailoring messages for these different audience segments.

Source: Health Affairs

DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01163

Authors: Jonathan Purtle, Alex Dahlen, Amanda Mauri, Blake R. Erickson, Michael P. Lindsey

Institutions: New York University, New York State Psychiatric Institute

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health