California partners with The Trevor Project to launch LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline after federal services are cut

In a swift response to the federal government’s termination of specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ+ youth, California has announced that it will partner with The Trevor Project to ensure vulnerable young people in the state continue to receive life-saving mental health services.

The move comes just weeks after the Trump administration officially ended the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, cutting the “Press 3” option and eliminating the ability to text “PRIDE” or access LGBTQ-trained crisis counselors via online chat. Federal officials said the change was made to “focus on serving all help seekers,” ending a program that had provided tailored, evidence-based support to more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth since 2022.

Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the decision, calling it an attack on LGBTQ+ children. “While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we’re here for you,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re proud to work with The Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life.”

California’s new partnership with The Trevor Project will include training for 988 crisis counselors across the state to provide culturally competent care to LGBTQ+ youth. The state currently operates 12 call centers as part of the national lifeline network.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom also condemned the federal rollback. “There could not be a more stark reminder of the moral bankruptcy of this administration than cutting off suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ youth,” she said. “No matter what this administration throws at us, I know this state will always meet cruelty with kindness and stand up for what’s right.”

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ youth mental health, had served as the primary provider of the specialized services during the program’s pilot phase. In 2024 alone, it responded to more than 231,000 crisis contacts and trained nearly 250 staff and counselors.

CEO Jaymes Black called the administration’s decision “incomprehensible." “Suicide prevention is about people, not politics,” Black said in a statement. “This administration has made a dangerous decision to play politics with real young people’s lives. I want every LGBTQ+ young person to know that you are worthy, valued, and loved exactly as you are.”

The decision comes amid concerning statistics: suicide remains the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10–14 and the third for those aged 15–24, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Trevor Project’s 2024 national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ young people found that 39% of LGBTQ+ youth had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. The survey also found that half of LGBTQ+ youth who reported wanting mental health care were unable to get it.

In contrast to federal action, California has made youth mental health a policy priority since the COVID-19 pandemic. The state launched a $4.7 billion overhaul of its behavioral health system in 2022, including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, which offers expanded services, especially for LGBTQ+ youth.

The Trevor Project’s own services remain operational and independent of the federal government. LGBTQ+ youth in crisis can still reach out 24/7 by calling 1-866-488-7386, texting START to 678678, or visiting TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help.

As California steps in to fill a life-saving gap, advocates say the battle for inclusive mental health services is far from over. “This is hard,” said Black, “but we are far from defeated. Nothing – and I mean nothing – will stop us from working toward a world where every LGBTQ+ young person feels safe, seen, and supported exactly as they are.”