To quantify funding designated in enacted state budgets for suicide prevention and mental health crisis services and evaluate variations in these allocations.
Approach:
Study Design: A repeated cross-sectional state-year panel study examining enacted state budgets from fiscal years 2021 to 2026.
Data Collection: Enacted budgets were identified using the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) and state websites, resulting in 306 state-year budget observations.
Funding Identification: Funding line items were systematically searched for terms related to suicide prevention and crisis services, with a focus on explicit designations.
Exclusion Criteria: Crisis-intervention funding without explicit mental health connections and general mental health service funding without specific mentions of suicide prevention were excluded.
Key Findings:
12 states passed legislation establishing 988 telecommunications fees to support crisis services by July 2026.
21 states enacted laws for a dedicated suicide prevention office or coordinator by January 2025.
Funding amounts analyzed likely underestimate state-level investments in suicide prevention and crisis services.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the need for comprehensive documentation of state-level investments in suicide prevention and crisis services, particularly in the context of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Limitations:
The analysis may underestimate actual state-level investments due to exclusion criteria.
Funding entries without clear allocation amounts were omitted.
Conclusion:
Understanding state-level funding is essential for evaluating behavioral health policy and the effects of initiatives like the 988 system.
