1 day Ago By Michele Theil
Amid reports that Donald Trump is planning to defund to a suicide and crisis hotline provided to LGBTQ+ youth in the US, rumours are circulating that a Canadian suicide prevention hotline run by a trans charity is offering toll-free calls to LGBTQ+ youth based across the border.The rumour first emerged after the Trump administration plans to end federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialised Services, which have been a vital resource for LGBTQ+ minors experiencing mental health crises.The U.
S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
, is said to have drafted plans to eliminate funding for these critical services by October. Since the launch of the program in 2022, the service has reportedly supported over 1.2 million LGBTQ+ minors, responding to more than 14.
5 million calls, texts, and online contacts. These services have been credited with saving lives, particularly among young people facing suicidal thoughts and emotional distress.Eliminating the programme’s funding would “put lives at risk”, according to Jaymes Black, the chief executive of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention not-for-profit organisation that focuses on LGBTQ+ youngsters.
“Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity,” Black told PinkNews.“These programmes were implemented to address a proven, unprecedented and ongoing mental-health crisis among our nation’s young people, with strong bipartisan support in congress.”The proposed closure is upsetting, but they are not set in stone yet and Black reminded people that The Trevor Project and other LGBTQ+ groups would continue to remain available even if the hotline does end up being defunded.
In response to the anticipated cuts, social media posts began to spread suggesting that Canada may be preparing to offer its own suicide prevention hotline to U.S. LGBTQ+ minors.
However, this is false and the charity concerned- Trans Lifeline – have asked people to stop spreading this rumour. "As the Trump administration shuts down the 988 suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth, Canada has broadcasted their national hotline which now has a toll-free American version: Trans Lifeline's Hotline: 877-330-6366" https://t.co/Edei7R12gp— J-Moy (@Soyouarethatguy) April 28, 2025The charity has taken to Instagram and other social media sites to post a graphic titled: “Help us stop misinformation” and branding the claim that they’re a toll-free American LGBTQ+ helpline “false.
” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trans Lifeline (@translifeline)However, although untrue, the rumour does highlight the growing concern over mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth in the US, as well as the need for international cooperation in addressing these challenges.Advocates have urged Donald Trump’s government to reconsider its proposed cuts to the suicide hotline, and continue funding these essential services. The post Canadian trans charity asks for help debunking rumour they’re a toll-free LGBTQ+ suicide hotline appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.
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