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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was established in 2005 to provide a vital safety net for those in crisis. With rising rates of suicide and mental health problems, it became obvious that a readily accessible solution was needed, in parallel to 911 for other life-threatening situations.
Suicide claims more than 700,000 lives worldwide each year, more than 49,000 in the U.S., with a 2024 rate of approximately 14.7 people per 100,000. Suicide is at its highest since 1941, and has increased more than 30 percent in the last 20 years (Kuntz, 2024), generally rising year over year.
The rise in suicide is particularly concerning among young people, among whom mental health-related problems are especially prevalent (CDC, 2024). Mental health and suicide are highly stigmatized, introducing a barrier to proper attention and resource allocation, and making public health campaigns and broad awareness mission-critical.