SAMHSA Announces $231M Funding for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Expansion

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced on January 13 a $231M funding opportunity to administer the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline comprises a national network of more than 200 local crisis contact centers, managed by a SAMHSA-funded 988 network administrator.

According to the press release, in 2025, 988 received more than 8 million contacts from help seekers via call, text, chat, and ASL videophone.

Last summer, on July 17, SAMHSA announced that it would no longer silo LGBTQ+ youth services, also known as the “Press 3 option,” of the nation's Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988.

Later in the summer, on August 27, HHS stated that SAMHSA awarded $19 million in new supplemental funding through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant to address the intersection of homelessness and serious mental illness (SMI).

In 2020, President Trump signed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act into law, establishing 988 as the universal, three-digit number for anyone in the U.S. experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis to seek help. After completing the necessary preparations to develop this national system, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline officially launched in July 2022.

“Making sure that the 988 Lifeline is a reliable and effective resource for anyone in crisis is one of our most important missions at SAMHSA. The 988 Lifeline Administrator plays a key role in delivering this life-saving service to all Americans,” said SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll, in a statement.