Colorado's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline remains operational, but a proposed cut in the 2026 federal budget could severely impact specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth. The Trump administration's draft plan seeks to eliminate $50 million in annual funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, effective October 1, pending Congressional approval, as reported by NPR.
While Colorado’s 988 service is funded through a state surcharge, local advocates are increasingly concerned about the national consequences of these cuts. The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ youth line, part of the 988 system, has provided critical support since its launch in 2022, handling nearly 1.3 million contacts.
“All trained specialists who work for the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line receive distinctive training on cultural competency and assisting members of marginalized groups, including the LGBTQI+ community,” said Alexandra Eliot, a Colorado Behavioral Health Administration spokesperson. However, she said that Colorado does not operate the federally supported LGBTQ+ specialized lines.
Despite the state's commitment to mental health support, advocates warn that the loss of these specialized services could have devastating effects. “Mental health care is one of the few issues where there is strong and deep bipartisan support, largely because no family is untouched by our nation’s mental health, overdose, and suicide crises,” said Hannah Wesolowski, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s chief advocacy officer, in a press release published earlier this week. “Cuts of this magnitude would certainly disrupt critical research and programs that help people with mental illness get well and stay well, resulting in more people’s symptoms getting worse and putting people out of work, on the streets, and in jails and emergency rooms.”
Wesolowski said that NAMI strongly urges Congress to preserve funding for mental health research, life-saving programs, and criminal justice diversion efforts, with a focus on any programs targeted for elimination. “This proposal isn’t just a list of numbers on a page,” she said. “These cuts will directly hurt people with mental illness and their families.”
The specialized LGBTQ+ services line connects individuals to counselors trained to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth. According to The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey, 60 percent of LGBTQ+ youth experience mental health crises, and 45 percent contemplate suicide. Advocates warn that these cuts would put this critical support at risk.
Strong public support for specialized services is reflected in the 2023 NAMI-Ipsos survey, which found that 61 percent of respondents endorsed services for LGBTQ+ youth and 85 percent agreed that mental health crises should be handled by professionals, not law enforcement.
“We remain committed to supporting all Coloradans through the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line,” Eliot said. The state is prepared to manage any increase in demand should the federal cuts pass.
