Lifeline Checkup: Evaluating 988 Suicide Support Services
Published Date: 8/1/2025
Notice
Summary
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is collecting new data to check how well the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is working. This helps make sure people in crisis get quick, quality help through phone, chat, or text. With nearly $500 million in funding for 2024, this evaluation supports better services nationwide and keeps the Lifeline strong and ready for everyone who needs it.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Nearly $500M Allocated to Support 988
In FY2024, nearly $500 million was allocated for new funding opportunities to support the 988 Lifeline Administrator and grantees at state, territorial, Tribal, and center levels to strengthen crisis care nationwide.
Crisis Agency Staff Must Provide Data
Organizational staff and crisis agency employees will be asked to participate in multiple studies: examples include 73 administrators (SIS, 0.75 hr each), 1,034 crisis agency managers (CCPS, 1.00 hr each), and 6,000 organizational staff (CCDF, 0.15 hr each). The total annualized burden across all respondents is estimated at 16,724 respondents and 8,006.10 hours.
Evaluation Will Measure Suicide and Overdose Outcomes
SAMHSA will conduct a 5-year evaluation using system-, client-, and impact-level studies and will examine suicide and overdose morbidity and mortality using secondary data (e.g., CDC mortality data, Medicaid claims, HCUP, NSDUH, and SPARS) in a quasi-experimental interrupted time series design.
Parents/Caregivers Surveyed for 988 Study
SAMHSA will survey parents and caregivers as part of the 988 evaluation: 1,560 parent/caregiver respondents are expected, totaling 156 hours annually (0.10 hour per respondent) with an estimated cost of $1,131.00 per year.
Clients Contacting 988 Will Be Followed-Up
The evaluation will contact people who call, text, or chat 988 for follow-up: CES baseline will include 6,000 client respondents (0.75 hour each), plus follow-ups at 3 months (1,500 respondents, 0.65 hr), 6 months (375 respondents, 0.65 hr), and 12 months (94 respondents, 0.65 hr).
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-10884 — Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
Hey federal agencies! This notice shares the up-to-date list of labs and testing sites approved to do urine and oral fluid drug tests that meet strict government rules. If a lab loses its certification, it’s dropped from the list until it’s fixed. Staying current helps keep drug testing fair and reliable, with no extra costs or delays for agencies.
2026-10723 — Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
SAMHSA wants to keep collecting info from its grant recipients to check how well programs for substance abuse and mental health are doing. This helps them track progress and figure out what training or help grantees might need. If you’re involved with these grants, you might see no big changes, but your feedback on the process is welcome before the extension is approved.
2026-08506 — Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
HHS just dropped the latest list of labs and testing sites approved to do urine and oral fluid drug tests for federal workers. If a lab loses its certification, it’s taken off the list until it’s back in good standing. This update helps keep drug testing fair, reliable, and up-to-date for all federal agencies.
2026-07743 — Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
SAMHSA wants your thoughts on a new survey to check how well their Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion grants are working. This affects clinics improving mental health services and aims to make care better and easier to get. They’re asking for comments now to make sure the survey is clear, useful, and not too much work, with no big costs expected.
2026-07476 — Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
SAMHSA is asking for public feedback on their plan to collect information for evaluating the PATH program, which helps people transitioning out of homelessness. This evaluation happens every three years and affects states, territories, and local groups receiving PATH funds. The goal is to make sure the program works well without causing too much paperwork, with comments due soon and no new costs expected.
2026-06435 — Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services just shared the latest list of labs and testing centers approved to do urine and oral fluid drug tests for federal workers. If a lab loses its certification, it’s taken off the list until it’s fixed. This update helps keep drug testing fair, accurate, and on schedule—so federal agencies know exactly who’s good to go.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-14622 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Multiple Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Information Collection Requests
The Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is updating some paperwork rules for businesses that deal with alcohol and tobacco. They’re asking for public feedback before sending these changes to the government for approval. If you’re in this business, keep an eye out—these updates could affect how you report and might save you some time and hassle soon!
Next: 2025-14628 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Assessment of Fees on Large Bank Holding Companies and Nonbank Financial Companies
The Treasury Department is asking for approval to keep collecting info from big banks and financial companies to figure out their fees. This helps make sure the fees are fair and paperwork stays manageable. If you’re part of these big companies, get ready for some updates soon, and the public can share their thoughts before the plan moves forward.