Proposed budget elimination of suicide prevention service specifically for LGBTQ+ youth at 988 hotline
Washington, DC - The Trump administration is mulling over a plan to wipe out the specialized services provided by the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline for the LGBTQ+ community, as a means to slash down spending on mental health for the following year's discretionary budget. A confidential memo, dated April 10, has been reviewed by CNN, hinting at this possible course of action.
The memo points to the administration's probable strategy to streamline federal health spending and manipulate the operational framework of health agencies. Sources reveal that President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are considering consolidating many of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' functions into the Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA.
The 988 Lifeline becomes vulnerable if this leaked budget draft becomes a reality. As per the nonprofit organization, The Trevor Project - an LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention group that has been a subcontractor to the specialized service since 2022 - the specialized services for the LGBTQ+ community could face defunding starting October.
According to the memo, conversations within the Trump administration have revolved around phasing out the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ+ subnetwork, albeit without substantial input from team members working on the 988 project. A source within the HHS, who wishes to remain anonymous while still aiming to keep their position despite receiving a Reduction in Force notice, echoes this.
"There is data to show that rates of suicide among the LGBTQ community are significantly higher, consisting of four times the rate among heterosexual individuals," the source explains. "This underscores the need for a specialized lifeline."
In less than a year since its launch in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has received over 14.5 million contacts. Of those, around 1.2 million were routed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service[3]. Ceasing the support for this group puts millions of young lives at risk, according to Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, adding that the move may jeopardize the lives of LGBTQ+ youth due to a longstanding mental health crisis within the community.
Since 2022, the federal government has invested close to $1.5 billion in the 988 project, with substantial funds allocated to expanding services and support for various demographics, including the LGBTQ+ community and Spanish speakers[6]. Amidst concerns over budget cuts, organizers and advocates call for continued funding and support, stressing the role of these specialty services as an essential line of defense for a vulnerable group.
[1] American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — https://afsp.org/
[2] The Trevor Project — https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
[3] US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — https://www.samhsa.gov/
[4] Mental Health America — https://www.mhanational.org/
[5] Suicide Prevention Lifeline — https://988liferesources.org/
[6] The President's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention — https://www.hhs.gov/
The administration's draft for HHS's discretionary budget for mental health has proposed eliminating the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services tailored for LGBTQ+ youth, according to a leaked document reviewed by CNN and other sources.
The impending budget alterations propose the restructuring of health agencies and the consolidation of many functions within the Department of Health and Human Services, under the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). The leaked memo does not include funds for the LGB Center of Excellence, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, or the LGBTQ Youth Family Support Program.
By targeting the specialized services meant for LGBTQ+ youth, a segment of the population already coping with high rates of mental illness and suicide, the budget draft may leave some of the most vulnerable people at risk. Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that of the over 14.5 million contacts received by the 988 Lifeline since its launch in July 2022, around 1.2 million were directed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service[3].
Organizations like The Trevor Project, which supports these services, emphasize the dangerous consequences that might result from abandoning these crucial lifelines for at-risk youth. Suicide prevention programs have been implemented and signed into law with bipartisan support from Congress, making the implications of eliminating them worrying.
"Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity," The Trevor Project's CEO, Jaymes Black, stated in a press release. "Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access for millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens - it will put their lives at risk."
Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, former Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use under the Biden administration, fears the impact the proposed elimination could have on the 988 Lifeline as a public health resource and how it could affect other services such as the 988 Veterans sub-lifeline, and the Spanish subnetwork.
"I am concerned about that part of 988," Delphin-Rittmon said. "Certainly, there have been a lot of questions."
Plans by the Trump administration to cut funding for the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth may worsen an already tense mental health crisis within the community.
With LGBTQ+ youth having suicide rates that are four times higher compared to their heterosexual peers, these specialized services play a vital role in their mental wellbeing. The 988 Lifeline, launched in July 2022, has received over 14.5 million calls since then, with more than 1.2 million of these directed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service[3].
The leaked Health and Human Services (HHS) budget draft, which outlines the administration's suggestions for decreasing federal spending on healthcare services, has raised concerns that the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services could be defunded from October onwards.
If these cuts are approved by Congress, young LGBTQ+ lives may be in danger, as these support services are critical in coping with the mental health challenges faced by this community due to discrimination and absence of care. The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention group for LGBTQ+ youth, has emphasized the potential hazard of eliminating these specialized services.
"Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity," The Trevor Project's CEO, Jaymes Black, says in a recent press release. "Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access for millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens - it will put their lives at risk."
The federal government has invested approximately $1.5 billion in the 988 project since 2022, with a portion of these funds geared towards expanding services for various groups, including the LGBTQ+ community and Spanish speakers[5].
The draft budget does not offer funding for the LGB Center of Excellence, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, and the LGBTQ Youth Family Support Program. These cuts have sparked concerns about what the future might hold for these specialized services, which have provided a crucial lifeline for thousands of young people battling mental health issues.
The Trump administration's proposal to cut funding for the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth poses a significant risk to mental health within the community, placing millions of young lives at risk.
Suicide rates within the LGBTQ+ community are almost four times higher than among their cisgender and heterosexual peers, emphasizing the significance of the dedicated lifeline for this population. The 988 Lifeline was launched in July 2022 and has since received more than 14.5 million calls from people seeking assistance. According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 1.2 million of those called were directed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service[3].
Within the proposed budget, there is a lack of funding designated for the LGB Center of Excellence, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, and the LGBTQ Youth Family Support Program.
If approved by Congress, these cuts could lead to increased suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth, who are already dealing with extensive mental health challenges due to structural discrimination and scarce care resources, according to organizations like The Trevor Project, which supports these services.
Losing access to these services would have severe implications for the LGBTQ+ youth population, as they serve as a vital support system during their mental health struggles. Increased funding and support is needed to ensure that these services remain readily available and continue providing much-needed aid to young people battling mental health issues.
[1] American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — https://afsp.org/
[2] The Trevor Project — https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
[3] US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — https://www.samhsa.gov
[4] Mental Health America — https://www.mhanational.org/
[5] National Institute of Mental Health — https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
[6] The President's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention — https://www.hhs.gov/
Content Advisory: The following article discusses suicide and related mental health issues.
[Informative section on suicide statistics, risk factors, warning signs, and resources for those seeking help]
The proposed cuts to the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth may have detrimental effects on mental health within the community. By eliminating these crucial support services, the administration runs the risk of placing millions of young lives in jeopardy due to increased suicide rates.
[Details about The Trevor Project's opposition to the cuts and their potential impact on the LGBTQ+ youth population]
[Illustrative examples of the importance of specialized services and the unique challenges LGBTQ+ youth face]
Advocates urge Congress and the administration to prioritize funding for these specialized services, ensuring that they remain available to those in need. The mental health of young people is dependent on adequate support and resources to address the unique challenges they face.
[Recommendations for mental health resources, hotlines, and other support systems]
The suicide rate among LGBTQ+ youth is profoundly higher compared to their heterosexual peers, making specialized services essential in addressing their mental health needs. Cutting funding for these services would lead to a dramatic increase in suicide rates among this vulnerable population, which advocates argue should be prioritized by policymakers.
[Citing reputable sources to support the need for continued funding of LGBTQ+ youth services]
[Closing remarks and call-to-action for readers to share their thoughts and concerns with elected officials]
- The leaked HHS budget draft, if approved by Congress, could leave millions of vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth at risk by eliminating funding for the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services.
- The Administration for a Healthy America's proposed restructuring of health agencies and consolidation of functions within the Department of Health and Human Services may lead to the defunding of various centers of excellence, including the LGB Center of Excellence, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, and the LGBTQ Youth Family Support Program.
- Suicide among the LGBTQ+ community is four times higher than among heterosexual individuals, highlighting the necessity for specialized lifelines like the one provided by the 988 Lifeline.
- In less than a year since its launch, the 988 Lifeline has received over 14.5 million contacts, with around 1.2 million directed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service, underscoring the critical need for continued funding and support for these crucial services.
