Trump administration ending suicide help line for LGBTQ+ teens, alarming Long Island activists

The elimination of a national suicide hotline designed specifically to help LGBTQ+ teens and young adults could make it more difficult for vulnerable kids to get the mental health help they need, according to Long Island service providers and activists.

Until July 17, people who call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can press 3 and be directed to operators specially trained to help LGBTQ+ young people. After that date, all the calls will be handled together, according to an announcement earlier this week by the federal government.

"This is heartbreaking and, honestly, infuriating," said David Kilmnick, president of the Hauppauge-based LGBT Network. "At a time when LGBTQ youth are already facing escalating attacks from every direction possible, the federal government is pulling the plug on one of the few lifelines they have."

Since being created, the helpline's option has handled more than 1.2 million calls.

In a statement on its website, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said it will "no longer silo LGB+ youth services ... to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option."

It said the "Press 3” option was developed as a pilot plan funded by Congress in fiscal year 2022. The agency said the hotline program had spent the $33 million that had been allocated.

"Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress," the agency said. "Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help."

Critics say this is just the latest move by the Trump Administration to diminish the recognition and rights of transgender people in the United States. Hours after taking office in January, he signed an executive order proclaiming the government only recognizes two sexes, male and female, and bars taxpayer money from being used for gender-affirming health care.

CDC data showed about 26% of transgender and questioning students attempted suicide, 40% were bullied at school and about 25% stayed home from school because they didn’t feel safe.

For Kerry Thomas, a clinical social worker from East Northport, the issue is personal. Being a trans youth in the 1990s and early 2000s, "without acceptance or resources," Thomas said he attempted suicide at 16.

"Resources like this hotline have been vital in bringing down the rate of suicide among trans youth, along with progress we've seen over the years for broader acceptance," he said in an email. "I hope that sharing my story shows the need for these resources, and that it's possible to grow up and be successful as a trans person."

Kilmnick said it’s important for LGBTQ+ youth to have specially trained people on hotlines, because many have had "harmful, even traumatic experiences with other providers."

"So when they finally reach out, they need to know they’re speaking to someone who gets it — who will see them, respect them, and support them without question," he said.

Lisa Schlossberg of Kings Park also saw first hand how important it is for LGBTQ+ teens to have specialized services. Her child came out as trans in high school and benefited from support from parents and the school community.

She is also New York Chapter president of Free Mom Hugs New York, which supports the LGBTQ+ community through "education, conversation and visibility."

"Being a teen is hard — everybody is trying to figure out who they are," Schlossberg said in an interview. "But when you are part of the LGBT community and you are trying to figure that out, and you are getting messages from your government, from society, from your neighbors, from maybe your religious organization, telling you that who you are and what you feel is wrong, that can be extremely isolating and extremely frightening."

"Having a hotline specifically designed for that, saves lives, bottom line," she said.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.