With the federal government slashing funds for the program, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed its staff Tuesday to explore ways of maintaining a suicide-prevention hotline tailored for LGBTQ+ youth.
A national suicide-prevention hotline has been accessible by dialing 988 since 2022. The following year, an option was added to the hotline to provide specialized counseling to LGBTQ+ youth, who could press the number 3 on their phones to access the service -- provided locally by The Trevor Project, a nonprofit based in West Hollywood.
In a motion set to be discussed Tuesday, Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath noted that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced last month that funding for the specialized LGBTQ+ services would end on July 17.
"This cut in funding is devastating to a population that is especially vulnerable," according to the motion. "L.A. County needs to fully understand the impact of this SAMHSA announcement and find a way to continue providing specialty services for LGBTQ+ youth through 988."
The motion calls for county staff to report back in two weeks on the impact of the funding cut and explore ways of continuing the service locally.
"Having a specific option for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis to receive specialized services through 988 is not only the right thing to do, but it is also essential for preserving lives," according to the motion.
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"LGBTQ+ youth experience a higher risk of suicidality, not because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized by others. In fact, LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that looked at 10 years of data found that 65% of LGBTQ+ youth self-reported feeling persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness compared to 31% of cisgender and heterosexual youth."
Horvath said the use of the LGBTQ+ support line has "spiked over the past year" due to federal administration policies targeting the community.
"This horrific, immoral decision by the administration makes the county's commitment to supporting our youth, especially our LGBTQ+ youth, more critical than ever," Horvath said.
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