In its latest attack on LGBTQ+ communities, the Trump administration is shutting down the national LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline as of July 17. In a statement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the organization publicized that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will no longer offer its LGBTQ+ youth services – instead offering more generalized services to LGBTQ+ youth who call to seek support. Now more than ever, LGBTQ+ youth in mental health crises need and deserve a hotline that will provide necessary and life-saving care.
The administration’s war on our health, our support systems, our healthcare access, and more comes as no surprise. According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth experience mental health crises and thoughts of suicide at much higher rates than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Recent studies show that over 35% of LGBTQ+ youth have considered suicide in the last year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people. But 50% of these young people have reported that they were not able to access the mental health care they need – making these attacks on free, governmental resources even more devastating.
The unfortunate reality is that LGBTQ+ youth are facing an onslaught of attacks against their rights and well-being, and these attacks are doubly dangerous because reports have shown that attacks on LGBTQ+ equality often drive an increase in mental health crises amongst LGBTQ+ youth. Across the nation, LGBTQ+ youth have borne the brunt of this administration’s attacks – particularly trans youth, who have faced attacks on their healthcare access, right to play sports, and more.
Simply put, LGBTQ+ youth deserve better. We owe them kind, affirming care from mental health professionals trained to understand and support their unique challenges. They deserve to be affirmed and reminded that their identities are valid, welcomed, and affirmed by those around them. In a world that tries to shun LGBTQ+ youth for proclaiming their truth, we must strive to remind them they are without fault and that there is nothing wrong with who they are. While others try to weaponise their queerness against them, it must be stated time and time again, that their truth is sacred, just, and loved
As LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans youth, face unprecedented and relentless attacks from every level of government, free mental health services are even more important and life-saving. The removal of the 988 suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth will not only lead to higher prevalance of mental crises, but will leave many disadvantaged with little to no where to turn. For many LGBTQ+ members, especially those at the intersection of being both Black and LGBTQ+, the elimination of this hotline will only further widen the gap in terms of equitable care. Research has shown, Black LGBTQ+ youth are exposed to anti-Black violence, racism and anit-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, which in turn makes them more susceptible to negative experiences and decreased mental health.
Despite the Trump administration removing a valuable resource in the LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline today, there are still organizations that are available and ready to support LGBTQ+ youth mental health.
Organizations Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health
- The Trevor Project, a leading national organization focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people.
- Trans Lifeline, a grassroots hotline and non-profit organization that provides peer support and crisis services for transgender and questioning individuals.
- Rainbow Youth Project, provides access to no-cost mental health services, including suicide prevention and intervention, for LGBTQIA+ young people across the United States.
Eliminating a program that helps to keep youth alive is not only reckless, but outright cruel. Despite these attacks, we must continue fighting and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth every day – because the truth is that even one affirming and accepting adult can be the difference in helping a young person through a crisis.
