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Five months after the Trump administration ended a suicide and crisis hotline option specifically for LGBTQ+ youth, Los Angeles County is taking steps to establish its own service. The county's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to direct the Department of Mental Health to develop a local "press 3" pilot program to fill the void left by the federal cut.
The Trump administration's decision in July to eliminate the "press 3" option from the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which connected LGBTQ+ youth to specially trained counselors, has been met with criticism. According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 14% of the 5.1 million 988 callers used this option in the year before its termination. L.A. County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath emphasized the importance of maintaining support for LGBTQ+ youth, who face increased risks of mental health crises.
The county's initiative requires approval from the federal agency that eliminated the service, with a formal request coming from the California Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, Vibrant, the company managing the 988 phone system, would restore the "press 3" option for L.A. County callers. The county would then need to identify and fund crisis intervention service providers to deliver LGBTQ+ focused support.
In a broader effort, California is enhancing its behavioral health services for LGBTQ+ youth. Governor Gavin Newsom's administration has partnered with The Trevor Project to provide specialized training for the state's 988 crisis counselors. As reported by the official California government website, the state is committed to offering inclusive care and is working to establish a statewide "press 3" option through future legislation.
Anyone who needs to talk can call 800-273-8255 no matter the time of day.