The Trump administration ended a specialized suicide hotline option for LGBTQ-plus youth and young adults on July 17. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through the Department of Health and Human Services, discontinued the separate LGBTQ+ youth counseling option, also known as the “Press 3 option.”
Impact on LGBTQ+ Youth
Kristina Sabetta with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Valley of the Sun Chapter, called the change “dangerous” and “completely unacceptable.” The counselors who answered the Press 3 calls or texts either had a shared lived experience or were specially trained to serve the LGBTQ+ youth community. According to the Trevor Project, which serves LGBTQ-plus youth, the Press 3 option provided 1.3 million crisis contacts since it was implemented in 2022. In fact, 10% of all 988 contacts have been Press 3 calls or texts.
Community Response
Mental health advocates expressed concern that the removal of specialized support services for this vulnerable population would increase barriers to care. Sabetta stated that more LGBTQ+ youth are coming to NAMI support groups “scared to death and unsure of what the future holds” regarding mental health services.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2025-06-20/arizona-mental-health-advocate-says-changes-to-988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline-are-dangerous