Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Safeguard Lifesaving Crisis Services for LGBTQ+ Youth

Strategic Insights -

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, has introduced a bipartisan bill, the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025, to ensure dedicated, trained support is available to LGBTQ+ youth who contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain specialized services and reserve at least 9% of 988 Lifeline funds each year for these services.

According to Congressman Krishnamoorthi, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline must always meet LGBTQ+ young people with affirming, specialized care, not busy signals or generic referrals. He emphasized that the bill is about saving lives and should remain above politics.

Approximately 45% of high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021 identified as LGBTQ+, highlighting the urgent need for specialized crisis response. Since its launch, the 988 LGBTQ+ specialized services have handled over 1.5 million calls, texts, and chats, averaging around 2,200 contacts per day as of May 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain and operate LGBTQ+ youth specialized services within the 988 Lifeline.
  • The bill sets a funding floor, requiring HHS to reserve at least 9% of 988 resources annually for these services, ensuring reliable capacity and continuity.
  • The legislation is supported by the Trevor Project, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, GLSEN, and the Human Rights Campaign.
  • Over 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth have received life-saving care since the 988 Lifeline started, and nearly 1.3 million have turned to the specialized services.
  • LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately affected by suicide and suicidality, with approximately 40% having seriously considered suicide.
  • The bill aims to ensure every young person in crisis has access to the care they need, including specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 45% of high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021 identified as LGBTQ+.
  • Over 1.5 million calls, texts, and chats have been handled by the 988 LGBTQ+ specialized services since its launch.
  • The specialized services have averaged around 2,200 contacts per day as of May 2025.
  • Nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ young people who sought mental health support in 2024 were unable to access it.
  • The Trevor Project's 2025 data shows that 1.3 million LGBTQ+ youth have already turned to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's 'Press 3' option.

Sources:

  • Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's official website: krishnamoorthi.house.gov
  • The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/
  • National Alliance for Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/
  • GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org/
  • Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/