Government Curtails LGBTQ Crisis Helpline

Even though the government will continue to fund the very popular and successful 988 mental health crisis and suicide prevention line, the Trump administration this week has decided to end specialized suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth. It’s an interesting decision given the cry for more specialized mental health care among the psychiatrists I talk to. Roughly 1.3 million LGBTQ identifying people in crisis have called, texted or chatted with the 988 line since its launch in 2022, about 8% of the 16.5 million total, and around 100,000 alone in January and February this year, a source says.  These calls were routed to specially trained counselors, including those with similar life experience. "It's a good model, this 988, it's public health at its finest and in my opinion if people call that's good - it's if people don't call, that's the problem," said 19-year-old Marlena who called the line when she was a high school senior. The change doesn’t mean someone who identifies as LGBTQ can’t call anymore - of course they can and likely will - but it does effectively limit access to someone trained in their specific needs and the potential for a resolution. It begs the question: will they get the help they need. Back in 2023, counselor Wendy Martinez Farmer, who helps lead one of the company’s involved in 988, told me that roughly 75-80% of the calls were getting “resolved.” More specialized training and counselors were needed to build off what was a great start.  The special help lines for veterans and those who are hard of hearing will continue.  At a time when suicide care has been misunderstood in the media, the move away from specialized preventive care at least in this specific case is an interesting one given 57% of LGBTQ identifying teens in the Behavioral Health Hour poll of 3,600 say they have contemplated taking their life. If there’s a silver lining, it's a wake up call for healthcare investors and mental health leaders who may now have an opportunity, if not a mission, to fill the gap by training counselors and raising the quality of crisis care.