CNN
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According to an internal document reviewed by CNN, the Trump administration is considering eliminating 988 suicide prevention and crisis lifeline specialist services for LGBTQ+ youth.
A preliminary memo dated April 10 previews the administration’s possible plans to reduce discretionary federal health spending and rework healthcare facilities, as President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
If a leaked budget draft is in place, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialty Services could be repaid from October to October.
The White House Management and Budget office did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
In October 2020, Trump signed a bipartisan bill, creating a universal phone number for 988, reaching the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
In July 2022, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched under the Biden administration, shifting 10 digits to a 3-digit number that is easy to remember. Those seeking emotional and mental health support can dial 988 just like they would dial 911 for a medical emergency.
Shortly after its launch, 988 Lifeline included a subnetwork for LGBTQ+ individuals to connect to specialized services. Now, when people dial 988, they are given the option to hit 3 and reach a crisis counselor trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth.
There have been some debate within the Trump administration about ending the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ subnetwork. Working closely with the 988 Lifeline team, there was some debate, according to people who asked for anonymity as they were recently given power cuts, but wanted to continue their work.
“From what I’ve gathered, I’m just talking to others, and these decisions are made without feedback from 988 teams or people involved in the project,” the source would probably recommend removing the LGBTQ+ subnetwork if the leadership of the 988 team is consulted.
“The suicide rate is four times higher than others among LGBTQ youth,” the person said. “We have data showing high suicide rates among LGBTQ communities. So, because there are such important needs, there is a dedicated number for the press if you come from that community.”
As of mid-March, over 14.5 million people called on 988 Lifelines to chat, send text messages, and then forwarded to Crisis Contact Centers Since July 2022, data from the U.S. Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. Of these, approximately 1.2 million have been routed to LGBTQ+ specialist services.
“Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity. Termination of LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services at 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is more than just removing access from millions of LGBTQ+ children and teens.
“These programs were implemented to address the unprecedented and ongoing mental health crisis that has been proven among young people in our country who have strong, bipartisan support in Congress, and have been signed to the law by President Trump himself,” he said. “We urge the administration to maintain a long-standing commitment to end suicide among high-risk populations, particularly young people in our country.”
Miriam Delfin Littmon, assistant secretary for HHS for mental health and substance use in the Biden administration, said she is concerned about how the restructuring of government agencies will affect 988 as a public health resource, and how other services and programs that fall under the Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services will affect them.
“We’ve had some discussions and questions about whether the LGBTQ+ line will remain, so we’re worried about that part of the 988,” she said. She is also concerned about the 988 veteran sub-liberin accessed by dialing 988 and pressing 1, and the Spanish sub-network accessed by dialing 988 and pressing 2.
Since 2022, the federal government has invested around $1.5 billion in 988 projects, expanding the deaf or deaf people by creating access to services for Spanish speakers, the creation of subreferations or subnetworks for LGBTQI+ youth, youth and their groups.
Delphin-Rittmon said he was worried about how 988 specific staffing and funding support will be shifted or eliminated under the restructuring of the HHS.
The leaked memo notes point out that the budget will maintain $10 million for professional services for Spanish speakers seeking access to the 988 services and eliminate the set-aside of professional services for LGBTQ+ Youth.
The budget does not include funding for the LGB Center of Excellence, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, Asian Americans, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands Behavioral Health Center, Excellence’s Hispanic/Latin Behavioral Health Center, and the LGBTQ Youth Family Support Program.
“I’m generally worried about Samsa,” Delphin Littmon said. “We certainly had a lot of questions.”