LGBTQ+ youth lose specialized 988 suicide line support
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LGBTQ+ youth who call the national 988 suicide prevention hotline will lose access to counselors specifically trained to serve their needs starting Thursday.
Why it matters: Nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, according to the Trevor Project, and 988's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth were considered a lifeline for young people who were struggling.
Driving the news: The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will stop funding the program, nearly three years to the day after it launched.
What they're saying: "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," SAMHSA said in a statement.
Between the lines: Illinois is one of 12 states that has a law that ensures funding for the general 988 suicide line, but that's not specific to LGBTQ+ callers.
The other side: "There are a lot of youth that are concerned," Chicago-area therapist Christina Geiselhart tells Axios. "They had almost this extended family of ... 'I have this whole community of people who do support me and do love me for who I am.' We're taking that away; we're taking away these safety nets for these youth."
- "Having to kind of advocate for yourself and figure things out and figure resources out for yourself because the main system doesn't acknowledge you is so hurtful for so many people."
By the numbers: Since its launch, the 988 line has received 16.5 million contacts, including more than 11 million calls, nearly 3 million texts and 2.4 million chats, KFF reported this week.
- Nearly 1.5 million of those contacts were routed through to the LGBTQ+ service since 2022, and it received more than 69,000 contacts in May, the most since that service has been available.
- In Illinois, 25.7 per 1,000 people called the hotline in 2024.
What's next: The Center on Halsted hosts drop-in hours every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm for young adults ages 18–24 and TransSafe drop-ins from 2pm to 5pm Mondays at its Northalsted location.
- The Trevor Project's free and confidential crisis services will still be available 24/7 for any LGBTQ+ young person by calling 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.