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The Trevor Project confirmed today that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—under the Trump administration—has directed the shutdown of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program within 30 days. This means that, effective July 17, the dedicated hotline that has supported over 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be in operation, according to Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black.
Black called the shutdown “devastating,” declaring that “suicide prevention is about people, not politics,” and criticizing both the timing—during Pride Month—and the removal of the “T” from the acronym in SAMHSA’s announcement. He emphasized that transgender youth “can never, and will never, be erased” by policy. Read Black’s statement in full below:
We received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, effective July 17, 2025. 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.
This is devastating, to say the least. 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 fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous – as is the administration’s choice to remove the ‘T’ from the acronym ‘LGBTQ+’ in their announcement. Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased.
Congress can still act to reverse this fatal decision. We are asking everyone to join the overwhelming public support for evidence-based crisis services, and urge Congress to act. Learn more by visiting TheTrevorProject.org/ActNow.
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.
Launched in September 2022, the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” option (or texting “PRIDE”) routed callers up to age 25 to counselors specially trained to address LGBTQ+ issues. According to ASFP, nearly half of all LGBTQ+ youth crisis contacts—about 231,000 in 2024 alone—came through the Trevor Project, one center within the seven-member LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork.
Further, in response to growing backlash over the termination of the LGBT suicide prevention service, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a statement defending the administration’s broader support for suicide prevention. However, the spokesperson also clarified why the specialized LGBTQ+ support line would not receive further funding, stating:
“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.”
Meanwhile, SAMHSA defended its decision by stating it intends to “integrate services rather than segment them,” maintaining $520 million in annual funding for the general 988 hotline but eliminating the previously designated $33 million set-aside for LGBTQ+ youth services.
However, experts warn that this move may have life-threatening consequences. Nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ youth reported seriously considering suicide in the previous year—a mounting crisis that specialized services were designed to confront.
Criticism has come from all sides. Representatives across the aisle—including Republican Rep. Mike Lawler—have urged reversal of the decision. “This is wrong. 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,” Lawler said in a post on Twitter/X.
“The 988 hotline has been a lifesaver. This decision should be reversed,” he added.
On the other hand, mental health advocates like The Trevor Project, NAMI, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention argue that eliminating tailored care is dangerous and counterproductive.
In a powerful show of support, over 100 celebrities—among them Pedro Pascal, Daniel Radcliffe, and Ariana Grande—have signed an open letter urging Congress to maintain the funding for LGBTQ+ youth mental health services. Citing the urgent need for targeted crisis intervention, the signatories assert that “suicide prevention is a public health crisis,” not a matter for partisan debate.
With the shutdown set for mid-July, advocates are calling on Congress to intervene and restore dedicated funding. In the meantime, The Trevor Project continues to offer 24/7 crisis support via its own channels: 1‑866‑488‑7386, chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or texting START to 678678.
IQ 45.47 IS A LYING, THIEVING, MISOGYNISTIC HOMOPHOBE WHO DOESN’T GIVE A RAT’S AZZ ABOUT THE GAY COMMUNITY, I.E, UNLESS HE’S LOOKING FOR THEM TO BUY ANY SHIT HE’S SELLING, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS OR THEIR VOTES! I PRAY FOR HIS EARLY DEATH AND THE FALL OF HIS “THOUSAND YEARS REICH”! EMPATHY, SYMPATHY,.SUPPORT, RESPECT OR THE “LIVE AND LET LIVE” MANTRA IS NONEXISTENT IN THE VISION OF HIS MAGA MOVEMENT RE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE DIRE NEED OF ANYONE, BESIDES THE YOUNG PEOPLE, SEEKING COUNSEL, COMFORT, DIRECTION AND SOLUTIONS TO DETER THE THOUGHT OF SUICIDE OR INFLICTING BODILY HARM AGAINST ANOTHER HUMAN… Read more »
You need anger management…tone it down for your own good
No, he doesn’t, he sees the danger/s most seem complacent to.
You might try lithium, as you really should be sedated
Suicide prevention services remain available for LGQBQ+ individuals. Those services are available on the same platform as those for Straight individuals. The hotline is one of equality and inclusion, instead of division.