988 LGBTQ+ Youth Line Returns in Washington
The 988 Press 3 crisis option for LGBTQ+ young people quietly reopened on September 30, 2026, after federal funding was cut in July 2025.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in LGBTQ+
Live Poll
Should the federal government fund specialized mental health crisis lines for LGBTQ+ youth?
The LGBTQ+ youth option of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which routes callers who press 3 to trained counselors, reopened on September 30, 2026. The line had been shut down in July 2025 when the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration terminated its funding.
Why it matters
The line had fielded nearly 22,000 calls and texts from Washington state before it went dark, leaving young LGBTQ+ people without a dedicated crisis resource. Its restoration follows bipartisan congressional pressure to preserve specialty services for LGBTQ+ youth.
The figures come from state-level line volume before the shutdown and a reported comparison of suicidal ideation among youth, which the extraction does not tie to a specific study. It is not yet known whether funding will stay in place for the reopened service.
The players
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that funds behavioral health and crisis services, including the 988 lifeline.
The details
Young people access the line by calling or texting 988 and pressing 3, and counselors outside Washington state answer and connect callers to in-state contact hubs when local resources are needed. The federal government is not conducting promotion of the reopened line, while Washington state plans to promote it at the state level.
Timeline
2022: The youth LGBTQ+ line went live.
July 2025: The line shut down after federal funding was terminated.
September 30, 2026: The line quietly reopened.
Big Picture
The youth LGBTQ+ option was added to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline when it launched in July 2022, and its 2025 termination and 2026 restoration show how specialty services within that federal system depend on ongoing funding decisions.
Young people in Washington who want LGBTQ+-specific support can call or text 988 and press 3 to reach trained counselors. Families and educators can share the option, since the state plans to promote the line.
The takeaway
Knowing that the 988 Press 3 option is available again gives young LGBTQ+ people in Washington a dedicated route to crisis support. Checking that a crisis line is funded before relying on it is a practical step for any family.
Further reading
For related coverage, see LGBTQ+ in Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yakima Herald-Republic.
Live Poll
Should the federal government fund specialized mental health crisis lines for LGBTQ+ youth?
