The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) affirms that every person in crisis deserves access to compassionate, culturally competent, and identity-affirming care. We are deeply concerned by SAMHSA’s June 17 announcement that the specialized “Press 3” option for LGBTQIA+ youth on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will be discontinued effective July 17, 2025.

While we understand that services for all help seekers will continue, the removal of a dedicated option for LGBTQIA+ youth risks undermining hard-won progress in making crisis support feel safe, visible, and inclusive for one of the most at-risk populations in our country. Specialized services matter, especially for those who face disproportionately high rates of suicide, discrimination, and mental health disparities.

This decision also arrives in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect. The case, United States v. Skrmetti, challenges a law that prohibits medical providers from offering certain treatments to transgender youth, treatments that remain available to others based solely on sex assigned at birth. The Court’s decision marks a devastating setback for trans rights and has implications for dozens of similar cases nationwide, further eroding access to medically necessary and identity-affirming care.

The “Press 3” option was never just a technical feature; it was a recognition of the distinct challenges facing LGBTQIA+ youth and a lifeline to affirming care. Since its inception in 2022, it has offered critical, identity-centered support at a time when LGBTQIA+ communities face escalating legislative attacks, public harassment, and systemic barriers to healthcare access.

Suicide prevention cannot be generalized when disparities are so deeply entrenched. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, paired with the removal of the “Press 3” option for LGBTQIA+ youth in the 988 Lifeline, delivers two devastating blows to care accessibility for some of our most vulnerable young people. These actions compound harm. Trust is fragile and earned through visibility, representation, and lived experience. Removing targeted support without a comprehensive, community-informed plan risks alienating those who need it most.

AAS stands firmly with LGBTQIA+ youth and with the clinicians, counselors, advocates, researchers, and communities who have worked tirelessly to ensure their safety and dignity for all. We will continue to advocate for systems of care that reflect the realities of those they serve.