Becca Nordeen, senior vice-president of crisis intervention at the Trevor Project, announced the termination of critical crisis services provided through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth. Despite answering 1.5 million contacts, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration decided to close these specialized services, citing financial constraints. LGBTQ+ youth face significantly higher suicide rates, with 20% attempting suicide in recent years. The Trevor Project continues to seek ways to support the needs of young people following this service closure.
The Trevor Project had provided counseling to LGBTQ+ individuals through 988 for nearly three years, responding to about half of the requests for services from the high-risk population.
20% of queer youth attempted suicide between 2022 and 2023, which is more than three times higher than their cisgender and heterosexual peers.
SAMHSA cited financial constraints as the reason for closing its line geared toward the LGBTQ+ community, though opponents of the closure say that it was politically motivated.
The emotional hangover of dealing with the grief and the work of shutting down the program affects those who provided crucial support to LGBTQ+ youth.
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