A Hawaii nonprofit has kept its helpline for queer youth open during the holiday season in a bid to meet increased demand.
Kids Hurt Too Hawaii launched the state’s first localised, 24/7 referral and crisis line for queer youth and their families in 2001.
Following the Trump administration’s shutdown of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii has been working to provide further support to the community.
In a bid to ensure support is available during the holiday season, the nonprofit is keeping its hotline open until 9 January.
‘Someone is here to listen’
A fundraising page for the nonprofit states: “The holidays can be hard, especially for queer youth and families navigating stress, fear, isolation, or big emotions.
“Kids Hurt Too Hawaii offers a warm, supportive 24/7 referral and crisis line for queer youth and their families. If you’re feeling depressed, angry, anxious, overwhelmed, or alone, someone is here to listen.”
An Instagram post by the nonprofit states that funding is needed in order to continue the helpline: “Keeping this line open during peak demand requires funding for trained staff, extended coverage, and critical support resources.
“Your donation helps ensure that no call goes unanswered when it matters most. Donate today to help keep this lifeline available through the holidays and beyond.”
As per Hawaii News Now, the line provides “culturally grounded support”.
Walker Rowsey, executive director of Kids Hurt Too, told the publication that volunteers are donating their time to ensure the line is open across the holidays to prepare for the “broken promise effect”, which he said sees “a spike right after New Year’s”.
Rowsey explained: “Youth will get their hopes up about something happening, some things getting better, something transpiring magical over the holidays, and if it doesn’t happen, that dash can be very dangerous, that drop, that immediate emotional, fallout from having those hopes not met.”
Donations to Kids Hurt Too Hawaii can be made here. Its Crisis & Referral Line can be reached at (808) 545-5683.
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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