The “Press 3” option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will end July 17, with advocates urging the cuts be reversed. Please note this story deals with suicide...
In less than 30 days the Trump administration will eliminate the “Press 3” option of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, catering specifically to LGBTQ+ youth.
Established in 2022, “Press 3,” connects LGBTQ+ youth and young adults under 25 with access to support from a LGBTQ+ trained counselor 24/7 via the lifeline. Youth can also text “PRIDE” to obtain services. The life-saving option has helped more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ youth through calls, text and online chats since its launch.
On July 17, LGBTQ+ youth will only be able to seek help on the general line. The change means there is no guarantee they’ll speak to a specifically trained LGBTQ+ counselor.
“About people, not politics.” Why is Trump shutting down the service?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was established in the first Trump administration, but the Biden presidency introduced “Press 3” with The Trevor Project.
Funding for the service was cut in the Department of Health and Human Services budget to avoid “radical gender ideology” from being embraced according to Rachel Cauley, a spokesperson for the White House. Cauley continued by suggesting counselors were encouraging the ideology without parental consent or knowledge.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said the hotline will “focus on serving all help seekers” and “no longer silo LGB+ youth services.” The purposeful use of LGB+ comes as Trump seeks to erase trans people. Trump signed an executive order stating there were only two sexes, male and female, targeting transgender rights and gender ideology. Agencies were told to “remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology” under the order.
“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 Trevor Project said in a statement about the elimination.
America’s current political climate has been severely impacting LGBTQ+ young people. The Trevor Project found that 90 per cent of this population segment felt their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics.
The data doesn’t lie, a specialized line is a needed
The Trevor Project serves 50 per cent of the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services’ contact volume, according to its website. It served over 231,000 crisis contacts in the last year alone. It also trained and supported nearly 250 crisis counselors.
The Trevor Project’s 2024 survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth People shared some upsetting numbers. It uncovered 39 per cent of LGBTQ+ young people considered attempting suicide in the past year. That number was 46 per cent for transgender and non-binary young people. It also found 12 per cent of LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide.
Looking at the needs of mental health care, 50 per cent said they wanted care, but couldn’t get it. The loss of “Press 3” will no doubt increase that number in next year’s report.
The Associated Press reported crisis hotlines have been flooded since Trump’s election, specifically by transgender youth. Psychologist Ben Miller told NPR that 988 fielded about 100,000 youth seeking help in the first two months of 2025 alone.
Organizations blast the government for putting young lives at risk
Across the United States, organizations have voiced concern about the loss of the specific LGBTQ+ youth line.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) asked Congress to reconsider the cut. “Eliminating this service will put young lives at risk. Facing stigma and discrimination, LGBTQ+ youth are over 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and in 2023, 41 per cent of LGBTQ+ youth reported seriously considering suicide,” Robert Gebbia, the chief executive officers of the AFSP, said. “The critical need for specialized support services, which research shows can build greater trust and lead to better outcomes in health and well-being for specific populations such as the LGTBQ+ community.”
The need for specific services was also echoed by the National Alliance for Mental Illness. “What they get with that specialized services line is they get somebody who cares, somebody who’s been there with them, who has shared experiences and who can understand where they’re coming from, and who has been specially trained to address the situations that they are dealing with,” Hannah Wesolowski, the chief advocacy officer for the non-profit stated.
While the government emphasizes 988 will still provide access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors, there is no denying specialized support is crucial.
LGBTQ+ youth are trying to understand what’s next
While words like “elimination” and “cancellation” are dominating headlines, there are independent hotlines American LGBTQ+ youth can still access to get support in a crisis.
The Trevor Project has a nationwide hotline where individuals can call (1-866-488-7386) or text (START to 678-678) 24/7 and speak with trained counselors.
Trans Lifeline is another resource focusing on trans individuals. The organization’s Canadian number was recently mistaken as a new national suicide crisis line. False social media posts claimed Canada donated the number to LGBTQ+ Americans, which caused a wave of calls beyond what the organization was equipped to handle. Trans Lifeline clarified it is an independent non-profit in Canada (1-877-330-6366) and the United States (1-877-565-8860) with services specifically for the trans community.
While a scary time for many LGBTQ+ youth in America, and globally, it is encouraging to see organizations and institutions rally together, creating resources and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth and their needs.
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