Trump administration shuts down lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth
– 2 min read
In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from mental health advocates and LGBTQ+ organisations, the Trump administration has officially terminated the specialised LGBTQ+ youth service within the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The decision, enacted on Thursday, ends a vital support channel that has served nearly 1.5 million crisis contacts since its launch in 2022.
The service, known as the “Press 3” option, allowed young people under 25 to connect with counsellors trained specifically to support LGBTQ+ individuals facing mental health crises. It was introduced following bipartisan legislation signed by Trump in 2020, which acknowledged the disproportionately high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced last month that it would “no longer silo” LGBTQ+ services, instead opting to provide generalised support to all callers. Critics argue this approach erases the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly transgender and nonbinary individuals, who face elevated risks of suicide and mental health challenges.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, which was a key provider of the specialised service, called the decision “unfathomable.”
“This administration has made a dangerous decision to play politics with real young people’s lives,” Black said. “The 988 Lifeline’s specialised services were 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.”
Mental health professionals and LGBTQ+ advocates have expressed deep concern over the impact of the shutdown. Adrian Shanker, former senior adviser on LGBTQ health equity at the Department of Health and Human Services, described the move as “an insult upon injury.”
“The specialised service has been incredibly successful,” Shanker said. “There’s also been societal factors that have increased the need for the service, and it’s an insult upon injury that it would be removed at this point in time.”
The Trevor Project has launched an emergency campaign to raise funds and expand its own crisis support network in response to the loss of federal funding. The organisation plans to hire additional counsellors and maintain staffing levels to meet anticipated surges in demand.
Mark Henson, Vice President of Government Affairs at The Trevor Project, added: “When the line goes silent, there are a lot of open questions we’re trying to prepare for. This is not just a budget cut - it’s a rollback of life-saving infrastructure for vulnerable youth.”
The decision comes amid broader cuts to diversity and inclusion programmes under the Trump administration, raising fears of further erosion of support systems for marginalised communities.
