LGBTQ+ Mental Health Alternatives to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Because mental health is a right, not a privilege

---

Before we dive in: Rey and the Archive exists because of paid subscribers. Your support helps me write, research, show up, and build the kind of queer community I wish I had growing up. If you value art, queer joy, resources, and community stories, consider subscribing for $5/month. It really does make a difference and keeps this work going. That’s the price of an iced coffee on a hot summer day.

🔒 Up next for paid subscribers: I’ll be picking up where I left off in the series, Life of a Trans Man Lesbian, diving deeper into my gender journey and how it intersects with my lesbian identity.

---

Background

It was a somber Thursday when the Trump administration officially shut down the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ Youth Specialized Services program. This program provided life-saving support to LGBTQ+ callers under the age of 25 by connecting them with trained, culturally competent counselors. Since its launch in 2022, it has served an estimated 1.5 million LGBTQ+ people, according to SAMHSA’s own lifeline performance data.

The announcement came quietly, midway through Pride Month, issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Here are the key points from that announcement:

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will no longer offer a dedicated service line for LGB+ youth through the “Press 3” option. (Yes, they removed the T.)

• The focus will now shift to serving all callers, including LGB+ youth, through general crisis counselors instead of a specialized team.

• SAMHSA emphasized that all callers will still have access to trained crisis counselors who are culturally competent and equipped to respond to diverse needs.

---

Get Involved

The number of resources available to LGBTQ+ youth is shrinking. So is the funding. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we help keep our community alive.

1. Donate to The Trevor Project.
   Support one of the few remaining 24/7 lifelines for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.

2. Share these mental health resources with your community.
   As call volumes increase for more well-known resources like Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project, consider amplifying and utilizing these as well.

• Call BlackLine
  A direct line to emotional support and peer counseling that centers the voices and safety of BIPOC folks, especially LGBTQ+ and trans people navigating harm, grief, or just needing to be heard.
  USA: (800) 604-5841

• LGBT National Helpline
  Run by and for LGBTQ+ folks, this helpline offers free and confidential peer support for anyone needing to talk, ask questions, or feel a little less alone.
  Phone: (888) 843-4564

• The Network/LA Red
  A survivor-led organization working to end partner abuse in LGBTQ+, BDSM, and polyamorous communities with a trauma-informed and liberation-rooted approach.
  Phone: (800) 832-1901

• Thrive Lifeline
  Crisis support by and for marginalized people, especially trans folks, disabled folks, and people of color, offering real-time text-based care that meets you where you are.
  Text: (313) 662-8209

• StrongHearts Native Helpline
  A culturally rooted and confidential helpline created by and for Native people impacted by domestic and sexual violence. It honors tradition, safety, and healing.
  Phone: (844) 762-8483

Note: You can also find all of these in the updated Resource Guide for Parents of Transgender Children.

3. Spread the word.
   Share this post. Text it to your friends and chosen family. Drop it in your group chat. Print it and leave it in your local community space. Do whatever you can to keep people informed and mobilized.

---

Stay informed. Stay engaged. And do not lose hope.

If you want to keep up with the latest attacks and the efforts to fight them, subscribe to Rey and the Archive. If this helped you, please share it with your community. Visibility and action matter.

---