Free, potentially life-saving resources for youngsters and families
The following column originally was published by a number of APG of East Central Minnesota newspapers in late July, 2026. This included the Sun Current, Sun Post, Sun Sailor, Faribault Daily News, Union Times, APG State News, and County News Review
Free, potentially life-saving resources for youngsters and families
A 2024 national poll reveals that 86% of Americans support something that Congress and the Minnesota Legislature have done to help save lives – creation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line – a resource that young people or adults can call, text, or chat to get support in times of crisis.
That research, published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, also found that “Among Americans who say they or a loved one contacted the 988 Lifeline, 68% say they got the help they needed. This has improved by 13 percentage points from June 2023.”
Sue Aberholden, one of Minnesota’s long-time mental health leaders, told me that 988 is “absolutely” one valuable part of Minnesota’s comprehensive efforts to promote mental health and reduce death by suicide. I’m NOT a medical doctor, nor am I providing medical advice. But in reviewing national and Minnesota research, I found noteworthy and sometimes encouraging information.
Sue Abderholden
For example: research published in April 2026 by the highly regarded Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found some good news:
“From July 2022 through December 2024, nationwide observed suicide mortality among individuals aged 15 to 34 years was lower than expected based on pre–988 Lifeline trends. During this period, 35, 529 suicides were observed compared with 39, 901 (95% CI, 38, 924-40, 878) expected suicides, corresponding to an 11.0% reduction or 4,372 fewer suicides.”
The authors cautioned: “Suicide remains a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. In July 2022, the U.S. launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, replacing the 10-digit 1-800-273-TALK number with a 3-digit number and investing more than $1.5 billion to expand crisis center capacity and workforce nationwide. In the subsequent three years, contacts to the lifeline more than doubled, with disproportionately higher use among adolescents and young adults.”
The full article is behind a paywall, but I read it. An April 2026 PBS Report found here summarized the research.
Minnesota Department of Health 2025 research shows more should be done: It found that “Suicide rates were up 4% in 2025. Preliminary data from 2025 indicate more than 800 Minnesotans are estimated to have died by suicide in each of the last five years.” This includes the fact that the death rate “for young teens aged 10-14 likely increased.”
MDH data shows that the use of 988 is up dramatically. “Contacts climbed from about 25,000 in the first six months of the program to about 83,000 in the first half of 2026.”
Tanya Carter, supervisor of MDH’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, points out that “Everyone has mental health, and anyone can struggle to maintain their wellbeing… When you need someone to talk to, 988 is your reliable resource for working through emotions and challenging times. Just call, text, or chat 988 to talk to someone who will honor your stories and listen with care.” Assistance is available in Spanish and more than 200 languages, as well as to those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Wendy T. Huckaby, communications specialist at MDH, told me that the most frequent uses of 988 are “anxiety, depression, suicide, general emotional support, sadness and loneliness.”
The national poll about American attitudes toward 988 is found here:
The Minnesota Department of Health has prepared much more information about 988, found here.
The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has free “tool kits” for educators, families, faith communities and others who want to help promote better mental health:
Clearly, we need to be talking with young people – even younger than I thought – about the 988 hotline and ways to deal with challenges and frustrations.
Joe Nathan, PhD, has been a Minnesota public school educator and PTA president. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org