Youth's Lives Every Day
September 30, 2026 – Today, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline resumed its LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, known as “Press 3,” after they were discontinued in July 2025.
Statement from Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project:
“We are grateful to see that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s ‘Press 3’ specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth have been restored. Resuming this national resource will be critical in addressing the public health crisis of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people, and supporting the estimated more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth who seriously consider attempting suicide in the U.S. each year. We are thankful for the large coalition of bipartisan lawmakers, mental health advocates, allies, and supporters who fought tirelessly for this restoration. We will monitor the launch and usage of these important services to ensure all LGBTQ+ youth are supported with clinically best standards.
“The Trevor Project was proud to pilot ‘Press 3’ when it first launched in 2022, and we remain ready, able, and willing to support any state, federal agency, or institution in providing LGBTQ+ young people with the comprehensive, current, and best-practice care they need and deserve. We’re grateful to the state lawmakers and agencies across the country partnering with us to ensure all their state’s 988 Lifeline counselors are specifically trained in providing competent crisis care to all LGBTQ+ youth. No matter what, The Trevor Project’s own 24/7 crisis lines remain available to directly support any LGBTQ+ young person in crisis, just as they always have.”
A brief timeline of recent activity for the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth:
- Sept 30, 2026: The 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth resume operation, for the first time since their termination on July 17, 2025.
- Aug 3, 2026: The Trevor Project was formally notified it was ineligible to participate in the restored services, confirming its exclusion from the new “Press 3” line.
- June 9, 2026: In a letter to Congress, the administration confirmed “Press 3” services would restart, but noted they must comply with an anti-transgender executive order.
- June 1, 2026: The 988 Lifeline administrators issued a call for “active” centers to apply to participate in the upcoming restored “Press 3” subnetwork. Since the July 2025 shutdown, The Trevor Project was considered an “inactive” center and, therefore, ineligible to apply. The Trevor Project submitted a proposal regardless.
- February 3, 2026: Congress passed legislation mandating that the previously eliminated “Press 3” specialized services be restored and funded with $33,100,000.
- July 17, 2025: The 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” services for LGBTQ+ youth were terminated.
- June 17, 2025: The federal government announced the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” services would be eliminated, effective in 30 days, on July 17, 2025.
- November 16, 2023: The 988 Lifeline announced a new subnetwork of seven crisis centers, including The Trevor Project, to support and expand “Press 3” operations.
- July 28, 2022: The 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth launched. The Trevor Project served as its sole service provider for the initial “pilot” period.
- October 17, 2020: The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law, creating the new three-digit suicide prevention lifeline, 9-8-8.
