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Daily Mirror
20 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.
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
LGBTQ+ advocates in Massachusetts worried crisis hotline could be shut down by Trump administration
National crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth could be shut down by Trump administration National crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth could be shut down by Trump administration National crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth could be shut down by Trump administration LGBTQ+ advocates in Massachusetts are concerned that the Trump administration could be discontinuing LGBTQ-specific support for youth on the national 988 suicide hotline. "Suicide prevention is about people, it's not about politics," said Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. The organization is a national suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. Moulton: People are going to die Rep. Seth Moulton sponsored the creation of the 988 hotline that includes help for veterans as well as LGBTQ+ youth. He voiced his displeasure on social media saying in part, "That's wrong. It's hateful. People are going to die because of this cut." The Trevor Project piloted and operated the LGBTQ+ section of 988, but now they may lose that federal funding. "We are very concerned that should this federal funding go away. We're still going to provide our services, but the demand can significantly increase," explained Henson. The Trevor Project studies show that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people in Massachusetts considered suicide in the past year, and 11% admitted to attempting suicide. "Nationally, 84% of LGBTQ+ youth said they wanted to access mental health care, but only half of them were able to, and the number one reason why they weren't able to was fear," said Henson. More than 1 million called crisis hotline Since its inception three years ago, Henson said 1.3 million LGBTQ+ children have called the number. "We've been trying to prepare young adults that the future is not going to be friendly, the near future," said Kristen Becker, founder of the program Summer of Sass. WBZ-TV first introduced you to Becker in 2023. Summer of Sass is a program that brings LGBTQ+ kids to Provincetown for the summer to escape situations of unacceptance in other states. "If we can't get behind suicide prevention, it's really mind blowing to me," said Becker. They are now bringing in a counselor who is available on WhatsApp if kids are in crisis. "It's just a real sad day for everyone who cares about mental health at all," said Becker.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Trump administration to shutter specialized LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline option, sparking backlash
A part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth — known as 988 option 3 — is being terminated under the Trump administration, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced. "On July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the 'Press 3 option,' to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option," a statement Tuesday from SAMHSA read. The agency said those who contact 988 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." It's unclear if staff for the specialized option 3 care line will be cut or moved to the general 988 line. CBS News has reached out to SAMHSA for more information. The nation's 988 hotline brings critical access to care for those battling mental health emergencies. Nationwide, calls increased 40% soon after the three-digit number was officially launched in 2022. Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people, described the planned change as "devastating." "This means that, 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," Black said in a statement Wednesday. "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." The news comes in the middle of Pride Month, which Black called "callous." He also criticized "the administration's choice to remove the 'T' from the acronym 'LGBTQ+' in their announcement," saying, "Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased." Sen. Tammy Baldwin also condemned the agency's move as "cruelly and needlessly taking" away a crucial resource for LGBTQ+ people in crisis. "During Pride Month, a time to celebrate the progress we've made, the Trump Administration is taking us a step back and telling LGBTQ+ kids that they don't matter and don't deserve help when they are in crisis," she said in a statement. Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, wrote the legislation that created the three-digit 988 hotline. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees SAMHSA, has announced plans to reorganize and fold its functions into a new Administration for a Healthy America. SAMHSA has also lost staff to job cuts this year, including some who worked on the 988 hotline team. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here. The Trevor Project's trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at or by texting START to 678678. For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@
Metro
6 days ago
- Health
- Metro
I thought I was confident in my body — and then I got a girlfriend
The first time I ever got a girlfriend, I was delighted. I'd come out as bisexual when I was 18, and two years later, after only ever been on dates with women, I was in a relationship with one. Shortly afterwards, though, I started to struggle with the way I looked. I'd inherited a tumultuous relationship with my body, and almost taught, as many women are, to feel insecure with it. While there's a part of me that presents a confident front, there's always another side – one that wants to hide away and wear baggy clothes, even during the summer. When I entered my first same-sex relationship, these insecurities worsened. It wasn't that I didn't feel love from my partner; more that I couldn't stop comparing my body to hers. I saw that she was much thinner than I was, and wished we could swap figures. Every woman I've ever been with, even casually, I've struggled not to fall back into that pattern of comparison. While I've still had similar insecurities while dating men, it's certainly heightened when you're dating someone with a similar body to you. According to LGBTQ+ organisation The Trevor Project, queer and trans youth are disproportionately impacted by body confidence issues. In 2023, nearly 87% of LGBTQ+ youth reported being unhappy with their body. Elsewhere, pansexual people were the most likely to feel insecure (91%), followed by those identifying as queer (88%), asexual (87%), bisexual (86%) and lesbian (85%). The statistics worsened amongst trans youth, too, at 90% compared to 80% of those who identify as cisgendered. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! It's an issue those in the public eye have spoken about too. In May, retired Olympian Tom Daley revealed in an interview with The Times that he 'hates' the way he looks – and this has only worsened since he stopped diving professionally. 'I've always had such horrible body issues going through my diving career. Now I'm not an athlete that trains six hours a day, I especially hate it,' he shared. As a gay man, Calum McSwiggan believes that the community can be 'toxic' when it comes to body image. 'Going out on the gay scene to parties, there's such a higher expectation placed on you,' Calum, who is 35 and currently travelling the world for Metro's Pride Around the World series, tells us. 'Sometimes, it can feel like if you don't have the body of an Adonis, that you don't measure up to your peers.' During lockdown, Calum used fitness as a coping mechanism. Dedicating hours each day to working out, he got himself 'in extremely good physical condition.' 'I was racking up between four and five hours of exercise a day, which is obscene. Now, I recognise that I was over-exercising, but I never saw it that way,' he details. When it comes to seeking a partner, Calum says he's attracted to faces and personalities, stating that a 'body is just a bonus' – and yet, he still lays this pressure on himself. Calum's previous boyfriend happened to be a model, and since he had 'all the abs and the muscles,' Calum found it incredibly difficult not to compare himself and 'not to want to become him.' 'I was dating him because I adored him as a person, and yet seeing his body compared to mine, you can't help but think that you're not good enough,' Calum recalls. This mentality is still very much present in his love life, and whenever he goes on a date with someone new, even if it's casual, he struggles to shake it. 'If they're more muscly than me, or leaner, there's always that feeling of 'they have a better body than me, so they're not going to want to be with me,'' he adds. Whenever he logs onto dating apps, Calum feels that every profile he scrolls through depicts the same thing: someone with abs and muscles. It gives him much the same feeling as when he goes clubbing; that if he's going to be part of this dating pool, he needs to 'match that.' 'When you're dating someone of the same gender, it's almost like holding a mirror up to yourself. There's the concept of boyfriend twins where gay couples end up looking like each other, and you're always comparing yourself,' he says. Recently, Calum's life has changed a lot. As a nomad, he's now much busier than he was – and since he's changing country every week and living out of a bag, he no longer has the free time available to 'work' on his body so much. 'When I was at my most fit, that was when I beat myself up the most,' he reflects. 'Even when I had the abs, I never saw them in the mirror. I think I'm in a better place with my body image, but still not a great one. 'I genuinely don't know that many gay men who are.' While some people in same-sex relationships struggle with comparison, for Megan Jayne Crabbe, it's helped her embrace her body. 'I started having body image issues when I was four or five years old,' she tells Metro. 'I was dieting by the time I was 10 and was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when I was 14.' After recovery, she dove straight back into 'chasing body goals and ideal weights.' At the time, Megan, now 32, says she dated men who had much narrower expectations of how they expected a female body to look. 'I've dated men who've pointed out when I've gained weight, men who've been disgusted by my body hair, even a self-proclaimed 'feminist' who told me he wouldn't want his girlfriend to 'let herself go'.' 'I was always more self-conscious with men and felt I had to perform a version of desirability that was as close to the beauty standard as possible, whether that was by always having my make-up done or sucking in my stomach whenever they touched me.' But when Megan was 21, she found the body positivity movement online, and worked on untangling the relationships between patriarchy, fatphobia and toxic dieting culture. She feels that, had she not embraced her body, she may not have been able to embrace her sexuality, which saw her come out as pansexual, aged 27. 'My body image issues were so all-consuming that I couldn't be at peace with anything about myself,' Megan, who is a creator, author, presenter and host, details. Now that she's dating a woman though, she has a completely non-judgmental partner who not only loves her body – but embraces it, too. Now that she's in a relationship that 'doesn't include the male gaze,' these patriarchal ideals of beauty, no longer get to her. 'For me it has been healing to date someone of the same gender,' Megan says. For Megan, practising self-love and accepting her body is something she still has to prioritise, but now that she's put in so much work, she recognises that she doesn't fall into that 'comparison trap' with her partner. More Trending 'Before, I probably would've really struggled to date someone like my current girlfriend because her body falls much closer to the cultural beauty standard than mine does. 'Now, I can appreciate that our bodies don't have to look similar for both to be good enough.' View More » Megan Jayne Crabbe's new book, We Don't Make Ourselves Smaller Here, comes out on June 26. If you suspect you, a family member or friend has an eating disorder, contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 or at help@ for information and advice on the best way to get appropriate treatment. For other helplines across the UK, visit here for more information. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: 'I'm a conservative dad who voted for Trump – I'd do anything for my trans child' MORE: I dumped ex for being boring in bed — but my new girlfriend's sex fantasy is too much MORE: Will Young: 'When I came out in the 00s being threatened was a given'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
6 Ways to Support LGBTQ+ Youth for Pride Month (and Beyond)
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that includes parades, festivals, and other community-building events. Pride Month acknowledges the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community as well as their struggles throughout history for equal rights and opportunities. Pride Month gives parents and caregivers a chance to discuss LGBTQ+ issues with kids in an age- and stage-appropriate way, to celebrate your own household if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, to show support for the community, and to establish yourself as an ally, especially if you care for a child who identifies as LGBTQ+. Here are some ways to support LGBTQ+ youth during Pride Month and beyond. Pride month events are joyful celebrations of the community, and there are often plenty of family-friendly opportunities to engage with throughout the month. For example, in our community, there are Pride Month Maker's Markets and a celebration at our local botanical garden. Research events in advance to make sure they are truly family-friendly, and then make a plan to attend and support those events with your family. No matter how your own family is structured, showing support for LGBTQ+ folks models acceptance and inclusion to your kids. If your child or their friends use chosen pronouns or a name that was not assigned to them at birth, make an effort to accept that as part of their identity, and use their preferred pronouns and names as much as possible. Be honest with your child if this is challenging for you, and let them know that, even if you don't always get it right, you are trying to do your best. If you care for a child who is LGBTQ+, educate yourself and them about LGBTQ+ history in a safe, age-appropriate way. Share with your children the many diverse family structures and gender identities that exist and affirm that they are all valid. Visit your local library to find books on specific subjects related to LGBTQ+ history (examples include Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution and Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History. And if you're an educator, check out GLSEN for more resources. LGBTQ+ youth face a lot of challenges, and it's important to make sure they find supportive environments for asking questions, sharing their feelings, and connecting with friends and allies. Look for organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, and facilitate your child attending meetups and support groups. In addition to local groups, national organizations like The Trevor Project, The LGBT National Help Center, and Trans Lifeline offer support for folks across the country. Find therapists and mental health providers who can support your child with ongoing therapy as needed to help them develop tools to navigate the world around them. Supporting LGBTQ+ youth means standing up for their rights, not just during Pride Month, but year-round. Practice affirming, non-discriminating behavior, challenge stereotypes, and stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community in your daily actions and political activities to show that you are fully committed and invested. Find organizations that are already doing this work, either in your own community or nationally, and support them by donating your time and, if possible, making financial contributions. People all want the same basic things — to be heard, seen, and loved — and this is especially important for kids. Devote specific, quality time to listening to your children, no matter where they are on their gender and sexuality journey. Create safe, private time in which they can ask you about anything, and make an effort to answer honestly. If you don't know the answer to a question, show them how to do the research to educate themselves. Ask them questions to better understand their perspective, and be an active listener. Let them know that you are learning and growing, just like they are, and most importantly, express to them that you love them for who they are, unconditionally. These 15 Kids' Storage Beds Have Hidden Depths The 14 Best Costco Items to Buy for Quick Family Meals The Best Zipper Sheets to Solve the Worst Bed-Making Task
