The Trump administration is to end an LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline ‘in 30 days’, with The Trevor Project CEO calling the move ‘devastating.’
Content warning: This article deals with themes of suicide and highlights statistics on suicidality in young people. Reader discretion is advised.
Following a leaked budget from the United States government in April, which planned to eliminate all funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention services through 988, a federal program that provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide, the service will close 17 July.
The LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Service hotline, known as the ‘Press 3 Option’, was set up in conjunction with The Trevor Project, and is part of the wider national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
In a statement on the decision by Trump to shut down the LGBTQ+ hotline, Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said she was “devastated and heartbroken”, and confirmed that it would close “in 30 days”.
“The @TrevorProject received official notice that The Trump administration has ordered the closure of the national LGBTQ+ youth suicide lifeline in 30 days,” Black said.
“The administration is eliminating a critical, life-saving resource that was part of this nation’s public health infrastructure… Today it feels like our country has failed our LGBTQ+ young people. We’ll never stop fighting.”
As reported by Reuters, a White House spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said funding would continue for 988 Lifeline, but called the soon-to-be defunct specialised service a place where LGBTQ+ children might “embrace radical gender ideology.”
“The president’s Budget funds the 988 at $520 million – the same number as under (former President Joe) Biden. It does not, however, grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by ‘counselors’ without consent or knowledge of their parents.”
According to The Trevor Project, an estimated 1.3 million crisis contacts have been connected to 988’s crisis services. The non-profit estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said that “Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help,” (via NBC News).
Celebrities such as Ariana Grande and Pedro Pascal signed an open letter 2 June urging lawmakers to protect an estimated $50 million in federal funding for hotline.
LGBTQ+ young people can still contact 988 for specialised crisis services until 17 July, and will be able to do after, without specialised services. They may also contact The Trevor Project, 24/7 and for free.
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
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