When the news broke last month that the Trump administration would eliminate specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth from the national suicide prevention hotline 988 in July, LGBTQ+ advocates and mental health organizations across the country swiftly condemned the move.
Now, the decision has officially gone into effect. As of July 17, the “press 3” option, once a lifeline connecting LGBTQ+ youth with trained, identity-affirming crisis counselors, is no longer available on the 988 system.
“This administration has made a dangerous decision to play politics with real young people’s lives,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, in a public statement. “The 988 Lifeline’s Specialized Services Program was created to serve Americans at highest risk for suicide — including veterans and LGBTQ+ youth — with best-practice crisis care that meets these populations’ unique needs. The program was created with overwhelming bipartisan support because, despite our political differences, we should all agree that every young person’s life is worth saving.”
While the federal government has removed the dedicated option, general support through 988 remains available. In an effort to clarify the current landscape, Qnotes called the 988 Lifeline directly and spoke with a crisis therapist, who confirmed that any caller in crisis, including LGBTQ+ youth, will still receive care. However, the absence of an identity-specific option has raised concerns among both providers and advocates.
“If we are taking away a lifeline for LGBTQ people specifically, it is a message that is directly saying that your lives don’t matter as much,” said Sarah Mikhail, executive director of Charlotte’s Time Out Youth.
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, reflected on the impact of the change in her July message to supporters.
“This lifeline was created to provide critical, immediate care for people in crisis – people at their most vulnerable. The LGBTQ+ option, launched in 2022, was a game-changer. It connected queer and trans people in need with trained crisis counselors who understood our unique challenges and experiences,” Robinson wrote.
In response to the cut, The Trevor Project has emphasized that its own crisis services remain free, confidential, and available 24/7. LGBTQ+ youth can reach out by calling 1-866-488-7386, texting START to 678678, or chatting online at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help.
Other affirming support services include Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860, the LGBT National Help Center at 888-843-4564, and Q Chat Space, a live peer support platform for LGBTQ+ teens at qchatspace.org.
A full list of LGBTQ+ mental health resources is available at hrc.org/resources/mental-health-resources-in-the-lgbtq-community.