The Trump administration plans to reinstate a specialized option for LGBTQ+ youth on the 988 crisis intervention hotline by the end of the year, but The Trevor Project, a leading nonprofit that helped pioneer the service, may be barred from participating.
The 988 Lifeline, often referred to as the "911 for mental health emergencies," has been credited with reducing suicide deaths among young people. It offers dedicated lines for specific groups, including veterans and Spanish speakers. However, the specialized "press 3" option for LGBTQ+ youth was discontinued by the administration in July, citing a lack of funding. The relaunch comes as Congress has directed $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific youth interventions.
Despite its instrumental role in developing and delivering the service, The Trevor Project's eligibility to provide the relaunched services is uncertain. The nonprofit administered approximately half of the 1.6 million contacts handled by the "Press 3" option during its operation, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Vibrant Emotional Health, the organization that manages the 988 service, has opened applications for entities to operate the relaunched "Press 3" lines. However, the application process is limited to crisis centers that are currently active members of the 988 network. The Trevor Project is not currently active in the network, a status stemming directly from the administration's cancellation of the specialized service it provided.
Other crisis centers that collaborated on the original LGBTQ+ youth program remain active and serve the general population as well as LGBTQ+ individuals. These centers do not have the specific mission dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ youth that The Trevor Project does.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, expressed concern, stating that the situation indicates a potential decline in clinical standards for serving high-risk groups, which were the foundation of the specialized "press 3" services. He noted that the organization continues to operate its own independent 24/7 crisis line for LGBTQ+ young people.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not directly address The Trevor Project's eligibility but affirmed the department's commitment to working with Vibrant Emotional Health to restore the service as directed by Congress.
Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, emphasized that The Trevor Project is a long-standing, trusted resource for LGBTQ+ individuals and excluding it would be illogical. She added that while other crisis centers provide quality care, the specific needs of LGBTQ+ youth, who often face marginalization and distrust institutions, require specialized attention and psychological safety.
Concerns are also being raised about potential policy influences on the relaunched service. A SAMHSA leader indicated in a letter that the agency must consider an "appropriate approach" to restarting the service in compliance with an executive order targeting transgender rights. This has led to worries that transgender and nonbinary youth could be excluded from the relaunched program, a fear echoed by The Trevor Project's Black.
Studies have highlighted the elevated suicide risk among LGBTQ+ youth. A 2024 CDC analysis found that 26% of transgender and gender-questioning students attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 5% of cisgender males and 11% of cisgender females. Black stressed that political considerations should not interfere with suicide prevention efforts, stating, "politics has no place in suicide prevention."