James Donaldson on Mental Health - State to expand LGBTQ youth suicide prevention training for 988 counselors

by Staff Writer

The program will be offered to counselors across all 11 of California’s 988 call centers

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California is partnering with The Trevor Project to provide specialized suicide prevention training for more than 1,000 counselors working at the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline centers, state officials said.

The training, which begins this month and runs through March 2026, is intended to help counselors better support LGBTQ youth, a group that research shows faces elevated risks of suicide and mental health challenges.

The program will be offered to counselors across all 11 of California’s 988 call centers. It is based on surveys conducted earlier this year of center leadership and crisis counselors to identify gaps in training and areas where additional support is needed, according to the California Health and Human Services Agency.

The sessions will focus on improving counselors’ understanding of LGBTQ identities, risk factors and best practices for crisis intervention.

The initiative comes as the state reports an increase in calls and messages from LGBTQ youth to 988 centers. State officials said early data indicate higher contact volumes after the federal government ended a specialized LGBTQ youth counseling option, known as “Press 3,” within the national 988 system. As a result, more LGBTQ callers have sought help through the general crisis line.

According to The Trevor Project, 35% of LGBTQ youth in California reported seriously considering suicide within the past year, based on the organization’s research.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support by phone, text and chat to people experiencing emotional distress or suicidal crises. California launched its version of the service in 2022 as part of a nationwide transition from the former National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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