Implications of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline among college students experiencing substance use crises

Abstract

Substance use remains a significant concern across college campuses and is associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Low levels of student help‐seeking call for innovative forms of support that increase access to care. The new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has the potential to address this concern through free, 24/7 crisis support. Regression analyses concluded that more frequent substance use significantly predicted lower help‐seeking intentions for suicidal thoughts among a sample of 446 college students. Students were also least likely to use the lifeline for substance use concerns as opposed to other mental health concerns. Implications for counselors are provided.