Few 988 callers suffering serious distress are likely to use the mental health crisis line again, a new study suggests.

New research into the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has revealed more information about who is most or least likely to know about and use this year-old mental health resource.

People with severe psychological distress were significantly more likely to have heard of 988 than those without distress.according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network.But less than a third of people with serious psychological distress who used the mental health crisis helpline said they would be likely to use it again.

According to the study, severe distress was associated with more than 30 times higher odds of lifebuoy use, while moderate distress was associated with five times higher odds of use than those without distress. . Of the 23 respondents in severe distress who reported using the 988 lifebuoy, only seven were very likely to use the lifebuoy again in the future.

I don’t think in any way that our data should indicate failure, said Jonathan Purtle, an associate professor at New York University’s School of Global Public Health who led the study. CNN. We need it in this country and it’s very important. This is very new and it’s reasonable that it will take some time to get it right.

The study involved an online survey of 5,058 U.S. adults conducted in June. Of the respondents, 51% identified as female and 49% as male, and the average age of participants was 48 years.

The 988 lifebuoy, put into servicein July 2022after the transition from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is used by more than 200 state and local call centers in the United States. It provides resources for people considering suicide, experiencing mental health crises, or seeking help with substance use. Crisis counselors are available to listen and provide support without judgment.

Before 988, the lifeline existed but (was) marketed as the suicide prevention lifeline for a much narrower type of caller, Purtle told CNN. 988 is a whole different animal. It’s a larger number of callers, a wider range of challenges, and one could probably argue that different types of training need to be put in place to meet people where they are when they call.

Another problem could be the lack of communication around the resource. A study published in JAMA earlier this month found that although many state legislators actively communicated about 988 on social media when it launched, this communication was not sustained over time and Most messages did not explicitly encourage the use of 988.

Since its launch, 988 has received approximately 6.5 million calls, texts and chats, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The service has taken steps to be more accessible to those who need it.Earlier this year, text and chat features for Spanish speakers were added.In September, the hotline addedAmerican Sign Language Servicesthus increasing access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

More than 49,000 people have committed suicide in the United States in 2022, the highest number ever recorded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2021 national survey, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, found that 4.8% of adults and 12.7% of adolescents had serious suicidal thoughts.

Family and friends can support loved ones experiencing mental health issues by looking for warning signs, asking direct questions with sensitivity, and seeking professional help at 911 or 988 if needed, depending on the Mayo Clinic.