Lawmakers look to restart suicide lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth service

"A bipartisan group of lawmakers from across both chambers of Congress introduced legislation this week calling for the Department of Health and Human Services "to dedicate sufficient resources" to the crisis and suicide lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth after the Trump administration terminated the service in July. The measure said this effort would include "establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining specialized services" for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program."

"The three-digit 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched in 2022 and is overseen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is located within HHS. A pilot program designed for LGBTQ+ youth was also set up that year to provide more direct support for those under the age of 25 seeking help, with the line becoming accessible 24/7 in 2023 as a dedicated "press 3" option for callers."

"In a statement announcing that the LGBTQ+ youth hotline would be shut down on July 17, SAMHSA said 988 "will no longer silo LGB+ youth services." The decision to eliminate the dedicated 988 "press 3" option came amid the Trump administration's crackdown on various diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs across the government. "Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors"

Bipartisan lawmakers filed legislation directing the Department of Health and Human Services to dedicate resources to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. The proposal would establish, operate, and maintain specialized services to support LGBTQ+ callers under 25. The 988 Lifeline launched in 2022 and added a pilot "press 3" option for LGBTQ+ youth, becoming a 24/7 resource in 2023. The Trump administration ended the dedicated option in July, with SAMHSA saying 988 will no longer silo LGB+ youth services while assuring that all callers will still access culturally competent crisis counselors. House and Senate sponsors are bipartisan.

Read at Nextgov.com