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Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Trump administration scrap suicide helpline for LGBTQ+ youths
LGBTQ+ organisations have described the defunding of the suicide prevention service as "devastating" as Trump's administration plans to close helpline within 30 days The Trump administration is set to shut down a US national suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ young people in funding cuts. American non-profit suicide prevention organisation, The Trevor Project has described scrapping the the helpline as "devastating", but the administration has cited the service as "radical gender ideology". The suicide prevention service in place for LGBTQ young people says it will soon close, but a 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will remain active with an option for LGBTQ youths available. The service has reassured that anyone calling will be treated with "compassion' and helped, but the hotline cuts to specific LGBTQ people has raised concerns for many. The Trevor Project has helped to run the LGBTQ+ helpline option, and the organisation has said the recent decision will be harmful, impacting vulnerable young people the most. Chief executive of The Trevor Project, Jaymes Black said 'suicide prevention is about people, not politics' and expressed concern at the announcement that the LGBTQ suicide prevention hotline will close down in 30 days time. Mr Black said: "The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible." The funding cuts to the service in place for this 'high risk' group coincides with international Pride Month, where LGBTQ lifestyle and history is celebrated across the world. Cities across the globe feature Pride processions and events honouring LGBTQ culture in society. The news of axing the service also came in ahead of a US Supreme Court decision on June 17 concerning minors who identify as transgender. The state of Tennessee upheld a ban on healthcare help when transitioning. The general 988 Lifeline will still offer a helpline for anyone who is struggling with mental health. It provides free mental health support via call, texts, or a chat service. The 988 Lifeline is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in America. Any LGBTQ young people calling through currently can select option 3 from the menu to connect with specialised counsellors. Once the changes occur (in 30 days time) the general 988 Lifeline service will instead "focus on serving all help seekers", including LGBTQ young people. However, when the changes are in place, the hotline will no longer have a separate helpline for LGBTQ youth services. Officials from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed the cuts to the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ youth services in June 2025. Speaking to NBC News at the time, a HHS spokesperson said the specialised LGBTQ+ option was a "chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by 'counsellors' without consent or knowledge of their parents". LGBTQ youth are "more than four times more likely to contemplate suicide than their peers, with 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth and more than 1 in 3 transgender youth reporting attempting suicide" reports suggest. But the helpline cuts come amid Trump's push to curtail other services specifically for transgender people across the government. Trump recently ordered the removal of transgender service people from the US military - and issued an executive order. The order being that the American government would only recognise males and females as 'two sexes' in society.
Chicago Tribune
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Heidi Stevens: Shutting down hotline services for LGBTQ+ youth is malice by Trump administration
There's cost-cutting, and then there's cruelty. President Donald Trump's administration appears determined to blur that line to the point of indistinction, using the former, over and over, to justify the latter. The decision to abruptly shut down the LGBTQ+ portion of a youth suicide and crisis hotline — a service that has no doubt saved countless lives — is the latest example. The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, received a stop work order, effective July 17, for the crisis services it provides to the national 988 suicide and crisis hotline. Since 2022, the group has provided crisis services to LGBTQ+ youth who contact the 988 Lifeline by offering them the option of being connected to counselors trained specifically in mental health for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. After July 17, the 988 Lifeline will remain in place, but will no longer provide specialized LGBTQ+ crisis counseling. A White House spokesman told the New York Times that the specialized portion of the hotline had 'run out of congressionally directed funding,' and continuing to fund it would jeopardize the entire operation. 'This is devastating, to say the least,' the Trevor Project wrote in a statement. 'Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.' Trevor Project counselors helped about 500,000 people in 2024, 231,000 of whom came through the 988 line, Zach Eisenstein, a spokesman for the organization, told The New York Times. Trevor Project is encouraging people to visit to help fight the decision, which Congress could, in theory, reverse. It's unconscionable that it's come to this. It's unconscionable that the physical, mental and emotional health of young people is on the chopping block because of who they are and who they love. It's unconscionable that our leaders, elected to serve and protect us, are instead finding new ways, daily, to degrade our humanity. I called my friend and former podcast partner John Duffy, a clinical therapist who specializes in adolescent mental health, to get his take on the hotline shutdown. I wanted to hear from someone whose funding isn't being cut, but who is nonetheless on the front lines of suicide prevention. I trust Duffy like no other on this topic — for his wise and enormous heart, for his evidence-based approach to helping young people and because he lost his own brother to suicide in 2001. He is, in a word, heartbroken. 'By the time a kid feels inclined to call a hotline,' Duffy said, 'they are hopeless and they don't feel understood. If you are in the LGBTQ community and you feel hopeless and misunderstood, you don't have the luxury of shopping around. You need someone on that line who understands you now.' LGBTQ+ youth often face family rejection, cultural rejection, discrimination, fear of personal violence, losing their civil rights — issues that call for an intentional, specified approach to care, Duffy said. 'Their mental health is a very delicate space,' he said. 'They need and deserve people who can handle that space with care. And to take that away when they're in a crisis state? It's lethal.' Duffy said he began hearing from his clients as soon as the order made headlines. 'It feels to them like things are just going to get worse,' he said. 'They feel like they're being targeted directly. They feel like they're not going to have the support they need. They feel hated by massive groups of people just by virtue of who they are.' Often, he said, his LGBTQ+ clients are struggling to accept themselves even as they're struggling for acceptance from the people they know and love. 'Many of them aren't comfortable with the idea of being L, G, B, T or Q,' he said. 'It's confusing and perplexing to them, even as they're trying to make other people comfortable with it. And the chance that they reach out in crisis and they hang up feeling unheard and misunderstood? The chance that their suicidal ideation remains, or they make a move to take their lives? That all just increased exponentially.' There is zero defense for this. Zero. Straight kids are impacted by the decision as well, Duffy said. They worry about their LGBTQ+ friends. They wonder what kind of world they're graduating into, growing into, and maybe, one day, bringing their own kids into. Hope feels hard for them to come by, he said. 'It's another indication of the depletion of the humanity of our systems,' he said. And for what? For cost-cutting? I don't buy it. The cruelty is the point. And it's costing us dearly.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Republican Calls Out Trump Admin Cutting Suicide Hotline: 'This is Wrong'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Republican congressman has called out the Trump administration for cutting the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline service tailored to LGBTQ+ youth. "This is wrong," Representative Mike Lawler of New York wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "According to studies, LGBTQ+ young people have an elevated risk of suicide and are more likely than their peers to attempt it. We should ensure they have the resources necessary to get help. The 988 hotline has been a lifesaver. This decision should be reversed." Newsweek contacted Lawler and the White House for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours. Why It Matters The LGBTQ+ youth program has served more than 1.3 million callers since it launched in September 2022, federal data shows. Since then, callers could press 3 on the phone to be connected to a counselor specifically trained to help LGBTQ+ youth. Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of suicide. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year found about 26 percent of transgender and gender-questioning students had attempted suicide in the past year, compared with 5 percent of cisgender male and 11 percent of cisgender female students. The closure of the 988 service comes as President Donald Trump has targeted transgender people with executive orders since returning to office in January. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Sign for the 988 Lifeline mental health emergency hotline in Walnut Creek, California, on December 20, 2024. Sign for the 988 Lifeline mental health emergency hotline in Walnut Creek, California, on December 20, 2024. Getty Images What To Know The 988 hotline will stop providing tailored support options to LGBTQ+ and young adults on July 17, according to a statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) website. The decision preempts the Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal to cut funding for 988's LGBTQ+ youth and young adult services. The Trevor Project said on Wednesday that it received official notice on Tuesday that the White House had ordered the closure of the program. The nonprofit, which is dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, is one of seven centers that provides 988 crisis support services for LGBTQ+ people and responds to almost half who contact the lifeline. SAMHSA's statement said the decision was made to "no longer silo" the services and "to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option." The statement referred to "LGB+ youth services," omitting the markers for transgender and queer people. Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black called the decision to omit the "T" representing transgender people "callous." "Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased," Black said. What People Are Saying Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said in a statement: "Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible." He added: "I want every LGBTQ+ young person to know that you are worthy, you are loved, and you belong—despite this heartbreaking news. The Trevor Project's crisis counselors are here for you 24/7, just as we always have been, to help you navigate anything you might be feeling right now." The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said in its statement: "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." Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., the CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), said in a statement: "The 988 Lifeline has been one of the most impactful mental health and suicide prevention innovations in recent years—connecting millions of people in crisis to immediate, lifesaving care. "It has also played a key role in building awareness, reducing stigma, and making support more available to people who need it most. As we mark Pride Month, we at NAMI are incredibly disheartened that the administration has announced the elimination of these services for America's LGBTQ+ youth, a community that, tragically, is at high risk for suicide." What Happens Next The Trevor Project is calling on people to sign a petition to demand lawmakers act to reverse the decision. The nonprofit said it would continue to run its 24/7 mental support services. SAMHSA said 988 will serve anyone who calls with compassion. If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can contact the Trevor Project's trained crisis counselors 24/7 by calling 1-866-488-7386, via chat at or by texting START to 678 678.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Trump ends specialized LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline; California Governor Newsom vows state will fill the gap
The Trump administration has ordered an end to federal funding for the nation's only specialized suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth , sparking outrage from advocates and setting up a new flashpoint with California Governor Gavin Newsom. The move, which will take effect July 17 and eliminates the 'Press 3' option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, prompted Newsom to swiftly promise that California will step in to protect and expand mental health support for LGBTQ youth. The move, according to Newsom, will ensure the state remains a safe haven for vulnerable young people. Federal officials argue that the general 988 Lifeline, which will continue to receive $520 million in funding, is sufficient for all callers. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said, 'The president's Budget funds the 988 at $520 million - the same number as under 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.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has signed multiple executive orders aimed at limiting transgender rights and rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in both government and the private sector. Live Events Advocates and mental health professionals have condemned the decision as dangerous and politically motivated. The Trevor Project , which has handled more than 1.3 million contacts from LGBTQ youth since the service launched in 2022, received a stop-work order this week. CEO Jaymes Black called the move 'devastating,' adding, 'Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.' Governor Newsom responded swiftly, denouncing the federal rollback as 'outrageous and inexcusable.' He announced that California will invest further in mental health services for LGBTQ youth, highlighting the state's $4.7 billion Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health and direct partnerships with organizations like The Trevor Project. 'While this federal administration slashes services and tries to erase LGBTQ people, California will do the opposite. Every child — straight, gay, transgender — belongs,' Newsom declared. The state operates 12 crisis centers for the 988 Lifeline and maintains additional digital support resources, ensuring that LGBTQ youth in California will continue to have access to specialized crisis counseling. This latest policy clash follows a series of confrontations between Newsom and Trump, including over federal immigration enforcement and ICE raids. As the July 17 cutoff approaches, the fate of specialized suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth hangs in the balance nationwide. In California, at least, state leaders are making clear they will not follow Washington's lead, and are prepared to invest heavily to ensure that vulnerable young people do not lose access to the support they need.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump administration removing 988 hotline service tailored to LGBTQ+ youth in July
The 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will stop providing tailored support options to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults on July 17, according to a statement on a federal agency's website. The decision preempts the Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal to cut funding for 988's LGBTQ+ youth and young adult services, and is raising alarm bells among LGBTQ+ advocates.
