Trump administration to shut down LGBTQ youth s*icide hotline

The Trump administration is shutting down a special hotline for LGBTQ youth in just 30 days. This hotline, part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, had a special option called "Press 3" that allowed young people to speak with trained counselors.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that starting July 17, the “Press 3 option” will no longer be available. They said they want to provide help to everyone, not just LGBTQ youth, which means they will stop focusing specifically on this group.

The "Press 3" service began in 2022 from a partnership with the Trevor Project, a group that helps LGBTQ individuals in crisis. Young people could call 988, press 3, and then talk to counselors who understood their needs. This program was created because LGBTQ youth have a higher risk of suicide.

Even though the specialized service is going away, SAMHSA says that young people can still get help from the regular hotline. They promised that anyone who calls will get support from skilled counselors who can help with emotional issues or crises.

The CEO of the Trevor Project, Jaymes Black, called the decision heartbreaking and said it affects over 1.3 million LGBTQ young people who have relied on these services. He emphasized that suicide prevention is about helping people, not politics.

He also criticized the choice to remove the "T" representing transgender people from their announcement, highlighting that transgender people should not be ignored. Black urged Congress to change this decision and assured the public that the Trevor Project will still offer support to young people in crisis.

In the recent budget proposal for 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services suggested removing the specialized services for youth. A spokesperson for the White House said the government should not fund a service where kids are encouraged to accept what they call "radical gender ideology" without their parents knowing.

Overall, the changes have raised concerns and frustrations among many who believe LGBTQ youth need specialized support, especially during tough times.