Trump Cuts LGBTQ+ Youth Services on 988 Hotline
The Trump administration has axed the “Press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline, sparking immediate backlash. This critical service, which connected young LGBTQ+ individuals with specialized mental health professionals since 2022, faces imminent discontinuation. Advocacy groups are raising serious concerns about the impact on vulnerable youth, with The Trevor Project leading the charge. SAMHSA claims the reason to be a shift to aiding all help-seekers. The move has already closed a crucial mental health lifeline for many. News Directory 3 provides complete coverage of this evolving story. how will LGBTQ+ youth mental health care be supported going forward? Discover what’s next.
Trump Administration Cuts LGBTQ Youth Option on 988 Suicide Crisis Hotline
Updated June 18, 2025
The Trump administration has eliminated the “Press 3” option from the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline, a service since 2022 that connected LGBTQ+ callers with mental health professionals specializing in their needs. The change, set to take effect July 17, has drawn criticism from advocacy groups.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said tuesday it was ending the LGBTQ youth mental health care option to broaden the hotline’s focus to “all” help-seekers. The agency stated it would ”no longer silo” what it termed “LGB+ services,” omitting the T for transgender.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, the association contracted to provide the “Press 3″ service, voiced strong opposition. In an Instagram video, Black said he was “devastated and heartbroken,” noting that half a million LGBTQ young people used the option last year. He described the move as SAMHSA “cutting” a vital lifeline.
SAMHSA reported that the $33 million allocated for the LGBTQ youth mental health care option in 2024 was fully spent by June 2025, going to support the service’s subnetworks.
“Your life has meaning,” Black said, addressing LGBTQ+ youth. “You are our future, and we will never stop fighting for you.”
What’s next
Advocates are now exploring option ways to ensure LGBTQ youth mental health care have access to specialized mental health support, emphasizing the critical role such services play in suicide prevention.