One year after the federal government ended the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project says the gap in crisis care remains a pressing concern despite renewed efforts to restore the program.
July 17 marks one year since the Trump administration discontinued the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, commonly known as “Press 3,” which connected LGBTQ+ callers under 25 with counselors trained to respond to the unique challenges facing queer and transgender youth.
While Congress has since directed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to restore $33.1 million in funding for LGBTQ+ youth specialized services, questions remain over how the program will return and whether organizations like The Trevor Project will be allowed to participate.
In a blog post published Thursday, The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black reflected on what he described as one of the organization’s most difficult moments—and the nationwide response that followed.
A Year Since LGBTQ+ Youth Lost Specialized Crisis Support
The LGBTQ+ youth option launched alongside the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022, allowing young people to “press 3,” text “PRIDE,” or connect through online chat to reach counselors specifically trained in LGBTQ+ crisis intervention.
According to The Trevor Project, more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth accessed the specialized service before it was eliminated on July 17, 2025.
“On July 17, 2025, the Trump administration abruptly terminated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program,” Black wrote. “Up until that point, LGBTQ+ young people under the age of 25 had the option of contacting the 988 Lifeline… and ‘pressing three,’ ‘texting PRIDE,’ or connecting via online chat to a counselor who was specially trained in supporting LGBTQ+ youth through crisis.”
Black called the decision “shocking,” writing that the loss of a federally supported suicide prevention resource for young people in crisis was difficult to process.
Still, he said the months that followed also demonstrated the strength of LGBTQ+ communities and their allies.
“July 17, 2025 marks one of the most difficult days in the history of The Trevor Project,” Black wrote. “But it also marks the start to a period in which our community of allies, supporters, peers, and partners showed up to champion our work supporting LGBTQ+ young people like I’d never seen before.”
Community Response Raised Millions
Following the shutdown, The Trevor Project launched its Emergency Lifeline Campaign for LGBTQ+ Youth.
The organization said the campaign raised more than $20.4 million from roughly 26,000 supporters. It also gathered more than 53,000 petition signatures calling for the restoration of the specialized services and received support from more than 100 members of Congress.
The nonprofit also published an open letter signed by more than 100 celebrities and public figures, including Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Daniel Radcliffe, and Dua Lipa.
Beyond fundraising, The Trevor Project partnered with state agencies in California and Illinois to begin training general 988 counselors in LGBTQ+ crisis competency. Black said the organization hopes to expand similar partnerships with additional states.
Restoration Efforts Face New Questions
There has been movement toward bringing back the LGBTQ+ youth services, but The Trevor Project says significant uncertainty remains.
According to the organization, Congress directed SAMHSA to restore funding for the specialized program, and 988 administrator Vibrant Emotional Health has invited existing crisis centers to apply for grants supporting LGBTQ+ youth services.
The Trevor Project submitted proposals to participate through both voice and text/chat services.
However, the organization says it has not received confirmation that it is eligible to return. In a letter to Congress, SAMHSA indicated that any restored services must comply with the administration’s January 2025 executive order recognizing only two sexes.
That requirement has raised concerns for advocates who say transgender youth, who experience some of the highest suicide risk rates among LGBTQ+ young people, could be excluded from services specifically designed to support them.
“These are not LGBTQ+ youth specialized services if they exclude transgender young people. Full stop,” Black wrote.
The Trevor Project also noted that it is currently considered a dormant 988 crisis center, which it believes could affect its eligibility if the program resumes.
Mental Health Needs Continue
While the future of “Press 3” remains uncertain, The Trevor Project says the broader mental health crisis facing LGBTQ+ youth has not changed.
The organization cited its research showing that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24 seriously consider suicide each year in the United States. It also reports that nearly 44% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were unable to access it.
“It’s clear that, regardless of the future of the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services, a severe gap in care persists, and it is fueling the crisis of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people in this country,” Black wrote.
The nonprofit pointed to several policy victories over the past year, including legislation supporting the restoration of the specialized services, funding approved in New York and Washington state for LGBTQ+ crisis competency training, and the launch of the Coalition for LGBTQ+ Youth, a partnership of 15 organizations focused on supporting LGBTQ+ young people.
Looking Ahead
Despite uncertainty surrounding the federal program, Black said The Trevor Project remains committed to providing crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth through its own services.
“The political environment in this country may be volatile, but The Trevor Project’s commitment to serving every LGBTQ+ young person who needs support through their darkest moments remains unshakable,” he wrote.
“Our counselors remain available 24/7/365 for any young person who needs us. And we’ll never stop fighting to create a world where all LGBTQ+ young people feel safe, supported, and loved exactly as they are.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available by calling or texting 988. LGBTQ+ young people can also reach trained counselors through The Trevor Project‘s free, confidential crisis services, available 24 hours a day.
