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State funding for suicide prevention nearly tripled over five years, peaking in 2025 before pulling back in 2026. A new JAMA Network Open study found per capita allocations jumped from $1.05 in 2021 to $6.55 in 2025, then fell to $4.51 in 2026. States that adopted a 988 telecom fee funded these services at more than twice the rate of those that didn't.
State budgets for suicide prevention and crisis services saw a dramatic rise over the past five years — but the momentum isn't uniform. A new study in JAMA Network Open analyzed 306 enacted state budgets from fiscal years 2021–2026 and found that mean per capita funding climbed from just $1.05 in 2021 to a peak of $6.55 in 2025, before dipping to $4.51 in 2026. The findings highlight both meaningful progress and persistent gaps across states.
One of the biggest drivers of higher funding? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline telecom fee. States that enacted this fee allocated more than twice as much per capita as those that didn't ($7.73 vs. $3.13). Regional disparities were also stark — Western states led with a mean of $7.19 per capita, while Southern and Midwestern states lagged at around $2.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Suicide remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., and funding is a critical lever for prevention. This study underscores how policy decisions — like adopting a telecom fee — can significantly shape a state's capacity to respond to the crisis.
