PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Although crisis counselors are still available on the 988 Lifeline, Thursday was the first day without the “press 3 option” for the LGBTQ+ youth services program.
Activists expect this will increase demand for services with nonprofit organizations such as The Trans Lifeline, a peer support hotline at 1-877-565-8860, and The Trevor Project’s crisis counselors at 1-866-488-7386.
The end of the 988 public service for a population that researchers found to be at a higher risk of suicide is part of President Donald Trump’s focus on cuts to federal programs related to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced in June that 988 will “no longer silo LGB+ youth services.”
Many suicide prevention activists in the LGBTQ+ community nationwide took notice that the spokesperson who wrote the announcement did not include the “T” for transgender or the “Q” for queer.
The 988 Lifeline’s specialized option used to also be accessed by texting “PRIDE” or online by selecting the option to connect with an “LGBTQI trained crisis counselor
It had started as a pilot program involving a federal government agreement with a third party in 2022. Congress funded the program in 2023 and last year.
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