Tampa, FLA. – A Specialized Hotline Option For LGBTQ+ Individuals Facing a Mental Health Crisis Is Being Eliminated from the National 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Sparking Conceern Among some lgbtq+ Advocates and Organizations Across Florida.
By The Numbers:
The LGBTQ+ LINE WAS LAUNCHED in 2022 AS A Support System for Members of the Community Strowinging with Mental Health and in Need of Help.
The Trevor Project, Whiche Advocates for Suicide Prevention Among LGBTQ+ Youth, Reports that 37% of LGBTQ+ Young People Seriously Considored Suicide in the Past Year.
Jackson Budinger, Senior Director of Communications at the Trevor Project, Warned the Change Coup Prove Deadly.
“IT’s Going to Result in More Lives Lost,” Budinger SAID.
Dig Deeper:
SAMHSA, The Federal Agency Overseeing 988, Says All Callers Will Continue to Receive Compassionate, Culturally Competent Care, Even With the Specialized Option.
But Budgeer and Other Advocates Argue that Trained Counselors with Special Knowledge of LGBTQ+ Issues are Essential.
“For Those Communities that are at a highher risk … It makes a lot of commen Sense that you will want to have
In the tampa bay region, 988 Calls are routed to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The Volume is Increased.
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SINCE 2022, We’re Taking Anywhere Between 50 and 70 Suicide Calls every Single Day from People in HillsBorough County who are in some Sort of Crisis Or Suicidal, “Said Clara Reynods, CEO Of the Crisis Center.
A Recent National Study Found Florida Ranks Among the States with the Fewest Calls to 988, Whiche Experts Attribute Partly to a Lack of Public Awardness.
“If People Don’t Know [the hotline] Exists, they don’t will to call, “Reynolds said.
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What they’re says:
Reynolds Said, that who the National LGBTQ+ Option May Disappear, The Local Center is Preparing to meet the Needs of Those Callers.
“We’re Going to Have a Local Solution for Local Individuals Who Are Calling, Looking for Help and Support,” Reynolds SAID.
What’s Next:
The LGBTQ+ Option Will Be Removred from the National 988 Hotline Menu by Mid-JULY. In the Meantime, Local Cris Centers and Advocity Organizations are working to fill the gap and raise Awareness of Available Resources.
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If you or some
The Source: This Story was Written with Information Gathered by Fox 13’s Aaron Mesmer.
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