988 hotline losing key suicide help for California LGBTQ+ youth
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The Trump administration is removing suicide counselors for LGBTQ+ youth from the 988 crisis hotline.
Why it matters: Those kids already face barriers to mental health care in California.
- President Trump is targeting a group that is more than four times as likely than its peers to attempt suicide.
Driving the news: Starting July 17, callers will no longer be connected to the Trevor Project's specialized hotline because the service ran out of congressionally directed funding, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
- "In 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be available for those who need it," Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said in a statement last week.
- The hotline's general services will remain available.
Zoom in: In San Diego County, about 1 in 6 teenage students identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer, and 2.3% identify as transgender, per the latest estimates.
State of play: California lands near the middle of the pack when it comes to using 988, which launched in 2022 to help address America's mental health crisis.
By the numbers: California saw a rate of 25.5 contacts per 1,000 people last year, making it the 21st highest in the nation, per new research published in JAMA Network Open.
- The national average was 23.7.
- Alaska (45.3) and Vermont (40.2) had the highest 988 contact rates among states in 2024, while Delaware (12.5) and Alabama (14.4) had the lowest.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org. En español.