Trump administration to close national LGBTQ+ youth suicide helpline on 17 July
– 2 min read
The Trump administration has announced it will discontinue the United States’ national LGBTQ youth suicide helpline on 17 July.
The decision, made by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will end the “Press 3” feature, which connected LGBTQ+ individuals under 25 with trained crisis counsellors.
SAMHSA stated that it aims to integrate services rather than isolate support for specific groups, saying it will “no longer silo LGB+ youth services” and will instead “focus on serving all help seekers.” Notably, the agency’s announcement omitted the “T” from the LGBTQ+ acronym, prompting criticism from advocacy groups.
The “Press 3” option was launched in 2022 through a federal partnership with The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth. Since its inception, the programme has supported over 1.3 million young people.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, condemned the move as “devastating,” emphasising that suicide prevention should transcend politics. “This decision removes a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people,” Black said. He also criticised the timing of the announcement, which came during Pride Month, and the exclusion of transgender representation in SAMHSA’s statement.
Despite the change, SAMHSA assured the public that all callers to the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to culturally competent crisis counsellors. However, mental health organisations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), expressed concern that the loss of specialised services could disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ youth, who are statistically more vulnerable to suicide.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed 2026 budget reflects the elimination of funding for the youth-specialised programme. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget defended the decision, citing concerns about taxpayer funding for services that allegedly promote “radical gender ideology” without parental consent.
Advocates are urging Congress to intervene and restore the programme. Meanwhile, The Trevor Project has reaffirmed its commitment to providing 24/7 support to LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.
