The article text:
A critical component of the US national suicide prevention hotline, designed specifically for LGBTQ youth, announced it will soon cease operations after the Trump administration cut its funding. The administration has claimed that the service promotes "radical gender ideology," but assures that the broader 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains funded, promising all callers will receive “compassion and help.”
Jaymes Black, the CEO of The Trevor Project, which played a significant role in the LGBTQ option, expressed grave concerns about the potential negative effect on vulnerable youth. "Suicide prevention is about people, not politics," he stated, mentioning that they have been instructed to shut down within a month. He added that the administration's decision to eliminate a bipartisan, evidence-based service assisting a high-risk demographic is "incomprehensible."
This move coincides with International Pride Month, which aims to celebrate LGBTQ culture and heritage, and comes just days before a US Supreme Court ruling that upheld Tennessee’s ban on transition-related healthcare for transgender minors.
The general 988 Lifeline provides complimentary mental health support through calls, texts, or chats. It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the US Health and Human Services Agency (HHS). LGBTQ youth can currently connect with counselors by selecting option 3 from the hotline menu. However, after the funding cuts take effect, remaining services will no longer isolate LGBTQ youth, with SAMHSA omitting transgender and queer individuals from its service description.
Last week, officials at HHS proposed slashing funding for LGBTQ youth services. An HHS spokesperson criticized the previously available option as a "chat service" where children were urged to adopt radical gender ideologies without parental knowledge or consent.
This legislation was originally passed by US Congress in 2020, mandating that the 988 Lifeline provide distinct services for LGBTQ individuals and other high-risk groups, acknowledging that LGBTQ youth face more than four times the risk of considering suicide than their non-LGBTQ peers, with 20% of LGBTQ youth and over 33% of transgender youth reporting suicide attempts.
The law was supported by both sides of the aisle, including then-president Donald Trump, who signed it into law during his first term. Based on the 988 Lifeline website, LGBTQ communities are disproportionately affected by suicidal tendencies due to historical and ongoing systemic violence.
The Trevor Project started offering its assistance through the 988 Lifeline system in 2022, and in 2024, they recorded more than 231,000 crisis contacts. They have pledged to continue providing independent services in the wake of these funding cuts.
Coinciding with this decision, Trump has actively sought to restrict services for transgender individuals across the federal spectrum, advocating for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which he defined as discriminatory. His administration also prohibited transgender soldiers in the US military and mandated that government documents only recognize binary gender options.
For those experiencing distress or seeking help, health professionals or supportive organizations can be approached. Resources for assistance in various countries are available through Befrienders Worldwide at www.befrienders.org. Similarly, a comprehensive list of support groups in the UK can be accessed at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
A critical component of the US national suicide prevention hotline, designed specifically for LGBTQ youth, announced it will soon cease operations after the Trump administration cut its funding. The administration has claimed that the service promotes "radical gender ideology," but assures that the broader 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains funded, promising all callers will receive “compassion and help.”
Jaymes Black, the CEO of The Trevor Project, which played a significant role in the LGBTQ option, expressed grave concerns about the potential negative effect on vulnerable youth. "Suicide prevention is about people, not politics," he stated, mentioning that they have been instructed to shut down within a month. He added that the administration's decision to eliminate a bipartisan, evidence-based service assisting a high-risk demographic is "incomprehensible."
This move coincides with International Pride Month, which aims to celebrate LGBTQ culture and heritage, and comes just days before a US Supreme Court ruling that upheld Tennessee’s ban on transition-related healthcare for transgender minors.
The general 988 Lifeline provides complimentary mental health support through calls, texts, or chats. It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the US Health and Human Services Agency (HHS). LGBTQ youth can currently connect with counselors by selecting option 3 from the hotline menu. However, after the funding cuts take effect, remaining services will no longer isolate LGBTQ youth, with SAMHSA omitting transgender and queer individuals from its service description.
Last week, officials at HHS proposed slashing funding for LGBTQ youth services. An HHS spokesperson criticized the previously available option as a "chat service" where children were urged to adopt radical gender ideologies without parental knowledge or consent.
This legislation was originally passed by US Congress in 2020, mandating that the 988 Lifeline provide distinct services for LGBTQ individuals and other high-risk groups, acknowledging that LGBTQ youth face more than four times the risk of considering suicide than their non-LGBTQ peers, with 20% of LGBTQ youth and over 33% of transgender youth reporting suicide attempts.
The law was supported by both sides of the aisle, including then-president Donald Trump, who signed it into law during his first term. Based on the 988 Lifeline website, LGBTQ communities are disproportionately affected by suicidal tendencies due to historical and ongoing systemic violence.
The Trevor Project started offering its assistance through the 988 Lifeline system in 2022, and in 2024, they recorded more than 231,000 crisis contacts. They have pledged to continue providing independent services in the wake of these funding cuts.
Coinciding with this decision, Trump has actively sought to restrict services for transgender individuals across the federal spectrum, advocating for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which he defined as discriminatory. His administration also prohibited transgender soldiers in the US military and mandated that government documents only recognize binary gender options.
For those experiencing distress or seeking help, health professionals or supportive organizations can be approached. Resources for assistance in various countries are available through Befrienders Worldwide at www.befrienders.org. Similarly, a comprehensive list of support groups in the UK can be accessed at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
