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Tiny Phone Fees Fund Lifeline to Save Lives
14 Sep
Summary
- Small monthly phone bill fees are funding 988 suicide crisis lines.
- Twelve states are using this approach, showing it is effective.
- This model could be adopted nationwide to boost crisis services.
In twelve states, small fees on monthly phone bills are successfully funding 988 suicide prevention crisis lines, according to a new study. This innovative funding model, costing approximately 30 cents per line monthly, shows empirical evidence of its effectiveness. Researchers analyzed state budgets from 2021 through 2026 and found that states with these telecom fees allocated double the funds toward suicide prevention services compared to states without them.
Overall state funding for suicide prevention and mental health crisis services increased substantially during the study period, from an average of $1.05 per resident in 2021 to $6.55 in 2025. The proportion of state budgets dedicated to these services also grew significantly. The study suggests that this fee-based mechanism is a promising strategy to enhance crisis service infrastructure, potentially serving as a blueprint for other states and the nation.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open on September 11, 2026, was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. While a state's suicide rate didn't always correlate directly with its spending on prevention, the study highlighted the tangible impact of telecom fees on bolstering crisis service funding.
