JUST RELEASED: New National Public Perception Data

A 2024 national public perception poll on mental health and suicide prevention builds on research from previous years and helps our nation better understand the public’s beliefs and attitudes about mental health and suicide. This year’s survey, which doubled in size to over 4,000 U.S. adults, emphasizes awareness of crisis services like 988, revealing significant growth in familiarity—63% have heard of 988, up from 57% in 2022.

Key findings show that most adults recognize that suicide can be prevented and believe they can play a role in suicide prevention. However, there are still barriers to reaching out to crisis services, such as financial concerns and negative attitudes from culture surrounding mental health and suicide that hinder action and can be addressed with further education. The poll also highlights the importance of trusted individuals in suicide prevention, with 89% of respondents believing they can make a difference.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of SPRC, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) at EDC, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), builds on past surveys from 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

The 2024 data also show that while gains have been made in perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about mental health and suicide prevention, continued efforts are essential to enhance awareness, understanding, and access to mental health and suicide prevention resources. Additional insights include the necessity for more education on lethal means safety and the role of employers and the media and entertainment industries in supporting mental health.

Additional key findings include:

• 91% of U.S. adults see suicide as preventable, at least some of the time.
• 93% of adults in the U.S. believe there is something that can be done to help reduce the number of people who die by suicide.
• 77% of adults in the U.S. would be interested in learning how to play a role in helping someone who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.
• 91% of adults in the U.S. perceive mental health as equal to or more important than physical health.
• 49% of adults in the U.S. feel physical health is treated as more important than mental health.
• 78% of adults in the U.S. say they would be somewhat or very likely to use 988 if they or someone they knew needed help.
• 61% of adults in the U.S. say they know someone who has thought about, attempted, or died by suicide, or have worried that someone might be thinking about suicide.
• 49% of adults in the U.S. know that limiting access to lethal means can prevent suicide.
• 47% of adults in the U.S. know that firearms are used in more than half of the cases of suicide in the U.S.
• 92% of adults in the U.S. believe there is a role for employers in supporting mental health and suicide prevention.

Learn more about the 2024 data—along with related data from previous years—and learn how you can take action to strengthen mental health and suicide prevention at SuicidePreventionNow.org.