Fact Check: SAMHSA removes 'T' from LGBTQ in controversial announcement.

Fact Check: SAMHSA removes 'T' from LGBTQ in controversial announcement.

Published June 29, 2025
VERDICT
True

# Fact Check: "SAMHSA removes 'T' from LGBTQ in controversial announcement." ## What We Know The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administr...

Fact Check: "SAMHSA removes 'T' from LGBTQ in controversial announcement."

What We Know

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that it would discontinue specialized suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, effective July 17, 2025. This decision has drawn significant criticism, particularly because the announcement notably omitted the "T" for transgender individuals and the "Q" for queer from the acronym LGBTQ+ (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR). The specialized services were initially implemented as a pilot program in 2022 to address the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth, who are statistically at a higher risk for suicide (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR).

The decision to cut these services was justified by SAMHSA as a move to "no longer silo" LGBTQ+ services, asserting that all individuals contacting the 988 Lifeline would still receive adequate support from trained counselors (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR). However, mental health advocates argue that the removal of specialized services undermines the support needed for this vulnerable group (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR).

Analysis

The announcement from SAMHSA has been met with backlash from various mental health organizations, including The Trevor Project, which has emphasized the importance of specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR). Critics argue that the omission of the "T" and "Q" from the announcement sends a harmful message to transgender and queer individuals, suggesting they are not a priority within mental health services (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR; New York Times).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this issue is generally high, with NPR and The New York Times being reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards. Both outlets provided context about the decision, including its implications for LGBTQ+ youth and the broader political landscape surrounding mental health services (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR; New York Times).

Moreover, the decision aligns with a broader trend observed during the Trump administration, which has been characterized by efforts to reduce funding and support for LGBTQ+ services (Chatterjee & Simmons-Duffin, 2025; NPR; HuffPost). This historical context adds weight to the concerns raised by advocates regarding the potential long-term impacts of such cuts on mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth.

Conclusion

The claim that SAMHSA has removed the "T" from LGBTQ in its announcement regarding the discontinuation of specialized suicide prevention services is True. The decision to cut these services, along with the omission of the "T" and "Q" from the acronym, reflects a significant shift in how LGBTQ+ youth are supported within mental health services. The evidence indicates that this move has been met with widespread criticism and concern from mental health advocates, highlighting the potential negative implications for a vulnerable population.

Sources

  1. Trump administration ends 988 suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ ... NPR
  2. Trump Administration Will End L.G.B.T.Q. Suicide ... New York Times
  3. RBD-385 [English Subtitle] Savage Sex Slave 2 (Nami Okawa) Link
  4. No more suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ+ in US? Trump announces ... WION
  5. Watch BDSM AV Online - Jable.TV | Watch HD JAV Online | Free … Link
  6. Trump administration to shutter specialized LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline ... CBS News
  7. RBD-385 Savage Sex Slave 2 (Nami Okawa) Jav Streaming Savage … Link
  8. Trump admin cuts option for LGBTQ+ youth from national suicide ... HuffPost

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