In a move that has raised concerns among advocates for LGBTQ+ youth, the federal government has announced a cut to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline services dedicated to this vulnerable group. Starting July 17, individuals in crisis will no longer have the option to "Press 3" for targeted LGBTQ+ youth support when calling the national helpline, a service that has been known to provide a critical safety net for those at risk of suicide, as per NCDHHS.
In the wake of this decision, North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services has stepped up, with Director of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, Kelly Crosbie, affirming the state's dedication to maintaining support for all 988 callers, including LGBTQ+ youth, "The need for mental health care for young people in North Carolina has never been greater, and we are committed to reaching every person in every community in every corner of our state," Crosbie said in a statement obtained by NCDHHS. highlighting that North Carolina's 988 service, a leader in rapid response, won't be phased by the lack of federal funding.
Statistics reveal the gravity of the situation; suicide is a leading cause of death among young people, particularly pronounced in the LGBTQ+ community, where youths are disproportionately affected and more than four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers, these alarming numbers only reinforce the dire need for accessible crisis intervention services.
North Carolina seems intent on filling the void left by the federal government, touting not only its commitment to responsive crisis intervention—boasting call response times under 14 seconds—but also its ambition to transform mental health care in the state, "In North Carolina, there will always be someone to call, someone to respond and somewhere to go if you are in crisis or just need someone to talk to," Crosbie reiterated, painting a picture of a comprehensive safety net inclusive of community crisis centers and mobile crisis teams that serve those in need, as per NCDHHS.
Resources remain available for mental health support in North Carolina, with services like the 988 Lifeline Chat and Text, available 24/7 and the Peer Warmline personally connecting callers to Peer Support Specialists. These resources highlight the continuous effort to make mental health support accessible, including additional online resources that the NCDHHS Suicide Prevention website offers for a myriad of issues from social stressors to substance abuse.
