Federal 988 LGBTQ Youth Crisis Line Ends, States Maintain Support

The specialized LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork of the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provided tailored support for LGBTQ+ individuals aged 13-24, was discontinued on July 17 due to federal funding cuts under the Trump administration. This subnetwork, launched in 2022 and supported by bipartisan efforts, had served over 1.5 million young people and handled nearly 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats, with organizations like The Trevor Project playing a major role in providing care. Critics, including LGBTQ+ advocates and officials like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have condemned the shutdown as a harmful and cruel decision that marginalizes a vulnerable community disproportionately at risk for suicide. Despite the shutdown of the specialized hotline, local organizations such as Lines For Life in Oregon and JASMYN in Florida assure that help is still available through the general 988 line, emphasizing ongoing training and passion among counselors to support LGBTQ+ callers. The loss of the dedicated subnetwork has led to layoffs of specialized staff and increased demand on other nonprofits, raising concerns about the message this sends to LGBTQ+ youth about the value of their mental health. State agencies and nonprofits continue efforts to provide culturally competent and compassionate care, but advocates stress the importance of unity and sustained support for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.