3 years later, 988 Lifeline sees higher volume but special option for LGBTQ youth cut
"This year, the 988 Lifeline continued to provide life-saving help to millions of people, with about a 20% higher volume of calls, texts and chats compared to the year prior," Dr. John Palmieri, acting director of SAMHSA's 988 Lifeline Office, told ABC News via email.
SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the division of the Department of Health and Human Services which oversees 988.
"Recent evaluation work affirms the effectiveness of the 988 Lifeline, with studies showing that the vast majority of suicidal callers saying they thought their crisis call helped them and stopped them from killing themselves," he added.
A network of more than 200 crisis call centers field calls, chats and texts on behalf of the Lifeline, offering support to callers experiencing suicidal crises and other forms of mental distress. This network has existed in some form for at least a couple of decades, beginning with the precursor to 988 -- the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which was started in 2005.
During his first term, President Donald Trump signed into law the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018, which designated 988 as the new three-digit number to call in case of a mental health emergency. The new number, intended to be easier to remember and access in times of crisis, officially launched on July 16, 2022.
Since that launch date, the Lifeline has answered over 13 million calls, chats and texts across the U.S. and its territories, according to SAMHSA.
"The transition to 988 three years ago sparked coordinated efforts across the country -- inspiring local governments, states, Tribes and healthcare providers to improve crisis care response systems in communities nationwide," Palmieri said.
Despite increasing state-level support for the Lifeline, recent downsizing efforts across the federal government have had an impact on the ability to "build out a crisis continuum of care across the country," Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told ABC News.
"Interestingly, the administration has proposed flat funding for 988 for fiscal year 2026, so that was really encouraging that they're proposing keeping funding levels at [$519.6 million]," Wesolowski said. "But with a lot of the changes within HHS, we've seen a fair number of the staff within the 988 behavioral health crisis coordinating office depart the administration."
The Trump administration has implemented significant workforce reductions for HHS and SAMHSA over the last few months. HHS also recently announced a major restructuring effort, which includes plans for additional staffing cuts and and the reorganization of some of the department's agencies, including SAMHSA, under a new entity called Administration for a Healthy America.
Asked how these changes to SAMHSA's place within the federal government may impact its oversight of 988, SAMHSA told ABC News via email that, "The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will continue daily, life-saving work, helping thousands of people every day and millions of people every year."
MORE: Trump administration to close LGBTQ+ suicide hotline program next month
In addition to the federal funding of 988, states offer varying levels of funding to support the Lifeline's operation. Many states have chosen to either adopt fees or recurring state appropriations in order to maintain efficient service and availability of counselors.
Currently, twelve states charge a small tax on phone bills every month to fund 988 operations. This funding structure is modeled after the one used to fund 911 call centers. Those twelve states include Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Vermont.
The permanent funding fees range from no cost in New York to $0.60 in Delaware.
An additional five states -- Arizona, Utah, Kansas, Georgia, Florida -- have implemented recurring state appropriations, meaning those states' legislatures offer funding through their annual budget.
"We've seen an increased commitment by states to create sustainable funding mechanisms for the service and a growth in local response to people in crisis," Palmieri said via email.
While states have been increasing resources to support 988, the Lifeline's offerings nationwide are about to change.
Currently, callers to the Lifeline are prompted to press numbered options for certain specialized services -- 1 for the Veterans' Crisis Line, 2 for the Spanish-language subnetwork and 3 for LGBTQ-youth centered care.
SAMHSA recently announced that the Press 3 option, which provides specialized care for LGBTQ youth, will no longer be a part of the Lifeline. That repeal was announced during LGBTQ Pride Month, just under three years after the subnetwork was first established as a pilot program in 2022.
The cut came as a surprise to those working on the specialized line, including The Trevor Project, which has been operating this type of service for ten years, according to Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs Mark Henson.
Henson told ABC News that the federal funding for the service allowed The Trevor Project and other organizations to "double our capacity to serve youth."
Since the launch of Press 3, Henson says the option has fielded over 1.3 million calls, chats and texts. Monthly calls have also increased from 1,752 at the option's launch to 69,057 answered contacts in its last reported data from SAMHSA in May 2025.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a bipartisan group of Congressional representatives responded to the cut announcement, noting that the subnetwork has averaged approximately 2,100 contacts per day.
"These numbers reflect the critical, ongoing demand for this targeted support," the members said. "To a young person feeling alone and scared, 988 is truly a lifeline."
MORE: LGBTQ, legal groups slam UPenn for 'caving' to Trump's trans athlete ban
In a statement announcing the discontinuation, SAMHSA said the move comes in response to significant operation costs and "to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option."
"The Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus included a Congressional directive for $29.7 million to fund the specialized services," SAMHSA said. "Federal funding in FY24 for the Press 3 services increased to $33 million. As of June 2025, more than $33 million in funds have been spent to support the subnetworks, fully expending the monies allocated for 988 Lifeline LGB+ subnetwork services."
Despite the evident utility of the specialized option, "Press 3 option has run out of Congressionally directed funding," an HHS spokesperson wrote in a statement to ABC News, adding, "continued funding of the Press 3 threatened to put the entire 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in danger of massive reductions in services."
The Trevor Project remains adamant that the change to the program will do more harm than good because it neglects the specific challenges that people in the LGBTQ community face.
"I think there's a fundamental lack of understanding that suicide prevention is about risk and not about identity," Henson told ABC News. "It's because of the life experiences and the stigma and the bullying associated with LGBTQ+ young people that make them more than four times as likely to attempt suicide."
"It's their life experiences and the unique drivers that have increased their risk of suicidality and therefore, have tailored care," he added.
For NAMI's part, Wesolowski said the organization is, "continuing to advocate with Congress," to reverse the decision to remove press 3, saying that, "members of Congress on both sides of the aisle express some concern around this."
Despite the federal shifts, Wesolowski says she hopes the foundation of 988 is strong enough to withstand political changes, both now and in the future.
"The goal has always been that anyone who's in a mental health crisis or emotional distress gets appropriate mental health care response," she said. "And I think right now, the [political] uncertainty is creating a lot of concern. [But] I think there's still strong bipartisan support and cross systems support."
If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises, or are worried about a friend or loved one, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
18 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Israeli airstrikes kill 14 Palestinians in Gaza, another 10 people die seeking food
DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed 14 people in the Gaza Strip, while another 10 Palestinians were killed separately as they sought food in the embattled enclave, hospital officials in Gaza told The Associated Press on Saturday. Two American aid workers with the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were also injured in southern Gaza after unknown assailants threw grenades at them at a food distribution site, the organization said. The latest bloodshed comes as U.S.-led ceasefire efforts aimed at halting a nearly 21-month war appear to be gaining momentum. Hamas gave a 'positive' response late Friday to the latest U.S. proposal for a 60-day truce but said further talks were needed on implementation. Hamas has been seeking guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. President Donald Trump has been pushing for an agreement and is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week to discuss a deal. Palestinians killed in southern Gaza The Israeli airstrikes struck tents in the Muwasi area on the southern end of Gaza's Mediterranean coast, killing seven people, including a Palestinian doctor and his three children, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Four others were killed in the town of Bani Suheila in southern Gaza, and three people were killed in three different strikes in Khan Younis. The Israeli army did not provide immediate comment on the strikes. Separately, eight Palestinians were killed near a GHF aid distribution site in the southern city of Rafah, the hospital said. One Palestinian was also killed near another GHF point in Rafah. It was not clear how far away the Palestinians were from the sites. GHF denied the killings happened near their sites. Previously the organization has said no one has been shot at its sites, which are guarded by private contractors but can only be accessed by passing Israeli military positions hundreds of meters away. The army had no immediate comment, but has said it fires warning shots as a crowd-control measure and it only aims at people when its troops are threatened. One Palestinian was also killed waiting in crowds for aid trucks in eastern Khan Younis, officials at Nasser Hospital said. The United Nations and other international organizations bring in their own supplies of aid. It was unclear to which organization the aid trucks the Palestinians were waiting for belonged to, but the incident did not appear to be connected to GHF operations. Crowds of Palestinians often wait for trucks and unload or loot their contents before they reach their destinations . These trucks must pass through areas under Israeli military control. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. American aid workers wounded The GHF said the two American aid workers were injured on Saturday morning when assailants threw grenades at a distribution site in Khan Younis. It blamed Hamas for the attack but gave no further evidence. The foundation later posted a photo of the fragments of the explosive device and claimed, without providing evidence, that it was detonated by Hamas militants. It said the injuries were not life-threatening, and the two men received medical attention. The GHF — a U.S.- and Israeli-backed initiative meant to bypass the U.N. — distributes aid from four sites that are surrounded by Israeli troops, three of which are in the far south of Gaza. The U.N. and other humanitarian groups have rejected the GHF system, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and it's not effective. Israel says Hamas has been siphoning off aid delivered by the U.N. — a claim the U.N. denies. Hamas has urged Palestinians not to cooperate with the GHF. GHF, which is registered in Delaware, began distributing food in May to Palestinians, who say Israeli troops open fire almost every day toward crowds on roads heading to the distribution points, through Israeli military zones. Several hundred people have been killed and hundreds more wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry and witnesses. The war in Gaza was set off after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Israel responded with an offensive that has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2 million people and left many on the edge of famine. The ministry is led by medical professionals employed by Gaza's Hamas government. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but its figures are seen by the U.N. and other international organizations as the most reliable statistics on war casualties. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Every breath you take affects how you move. Here's how to fix both
Dana Santas, known as the 'Mobility Maker,' is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports, and is the author of the book 'Practical Solutions for Back Pain Relief.' If you've been dealing with persistent tension, poor posture or nagging pain, it's worth checking in on your breathing. How you breathe not only reflects your movement quality — it also holds the power to change it for the better. Most people understand breathing's role as a life-sustaining function with stress-relieving properties. (Think — deep inhale, deep exhale.) But the way you breathe can also reveal how efficiently and effectively you move — and improving your breathing can help your body break out of a bad cycle of tension, imbalance and strain. When breathing becomes shallow and rapid, it doesn't just affect oxygen exchange — it disrupts the foundation of how your body functions. That's why much of my work in professional sports focuses on teaching the fundamentals of breathing biomechanics. I've seen firsthand how poor breathing patterns lead to mobility limitations, posture problems, chronic pain and increased risk of injury. In today's high-stress, screen-focused world, these same dysfunctional breathing patterns are common across all walks of life. But you can address faulty breathing by developing a better awareness of your patterns and practicing proper technique for a few minutes every day. Here's how to unlock your superpower. Breathing is one of the body's most fundamental movement patterns — occurring on average more than 23,000 times a day — and the diaphragm's contractions play a key role. Under stress, however, your body naturally shifts into the nervous system's sympathetic or fight-or-flight mode, driving faster, shallower breaths from the upper chest. Over time, especially with chronic stress, this becomes the default breathing pattern. Your breathing becomes more vertical — up in your chest and neck — rather than expanding your lungs and rib cage horizontally. This upper-chest pattern bypasses your diaphragm, forcing muscles in your neck and shoulders to take over the work of pulling in each breath. When your diaphragm isn't functioning properly, it can't fulfill its secondary role as a postural stabilizer because true core engagement requires this large muscle to work in harmony with your deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Because the diaphragm attaches to both your rib cage and your spine, poor engagement creates core instability and shifts your rib cage position. As your rib cage moves out of alignment, your spine and head follow, and because your shoulder blades glide over your rib cage, your shoulder position and function are also affected. Forward head posture develops as your neck extends and your rib cage lifts and flares. Moreover, rib mobility decreases, which restricts mid-back rotation and extension — essential for healthy movement patterns. Overall, mobility suffers and injury risk increases as your body reacts to increasing core instability by creating protective tension and muscular compensations — often straining the lower back. This creates a vicious cycle: Your breath affects your posture, your posture affects your breath, and both affect how you feel and move. People frequently try to address these problems with stretching or strength work alone, but without changing your breathing mechanics, you will remain stuck in dysfunctional patterns. One of the simplest ways to evaluate your breathing is by lying on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Place your hands on your lower ribs on either side of the area where your rib cage splits below your sternum. Spend a few moments taking some deep breaths, noticing where the movement happens. If you experience tightening or movement in your neck, upper chest or shoulders, or your ribs barely move, those are signs you may be breathing shallowly and not using your diaphragm effectively. Rather than focusing on so-called 'belly breathing' — a term often used to encourage relaxation but biomechanically misleading — focus on rib mobility and diaphragm function. The slight expansion of your abdomen is the result of increased intra-abdominal pressure, not air filling your belly. Overemphasizing belly movement can inhibit proper rib cage expansion and diaphragm mechanics over time. Try taking a few more breaths, directing your breath into the lung space under your lower ribs. With each inhale, feel for lateral expansion of your ribs under your hands. With each exhale, feel your rib cage move down and your lower ribs move in, promoting a natural core engagement to support the movement. If you identified potential issues with your breathing pattern, the next step is learning to retrain it. While many people focus on taking deeper inhales to improve breathing, the real key to breaking dysfunctional patterns lies in how you exhale. It's the exhale that plays a pivotal role in regulating your nervous system, restoring diaphragm function and improving your tolerance for stress — both physical and emotional. When you exhale fully and slowly, you stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, the branch responsible for calming your body and promoting recovery. A long, complete exhale also helps reset your diaphragm position, allowing it to contract more effectively on the next breath. Although oxygen tends to get most of the attention, this process is closely tied to carbon dioxide tolerance. CO₂ is what triggers the urge to breathe. But when you chronically overbreathe — taking in more oxygen than your body can use — you reduce CO₂ levels too quickly. This can make your chemoreceptors, the specialized sensors in your brain stem and arteries that monitor CO₂ levels in your blood, overly sensitive, causing feelings of breathlessness even when oxygen levels are adequate. Training yourself to tolerate slightly elevated carbon dioxide levels through long, slow exhales can improve your respiratory efficiency and build stress resilience. Sit comfortably with your hands on your lower ribs to monitor and guide movement. Inhale through your nose for a count of four. Exhale slowly through your nose or mouth (whatever feels best for you) for a count of eight. Pause briefly for a count of two at the end of the exhale. Repeat this pattern for 10 to 12 breaths, keeping your face, jaw, neck and shoulders relaxed. Practice this daily, gradually increasing to a 5:10 or 6:12 ratio as you build tolerance. This breathwork helps restore diaphragm function and rib mobility while retraining your nervous system to stay calm under pressure. The awareness and proficiency you develop through a regular breathwork practice becomes even more powerful when applied to physical activity. Integrating improved breathing mechanics into your daily life will make your movement feel more fluid, connected and efficient. Here are ways to apply better breathing during workouts: • Warm up with conscious breathing to create postural alignment, activate your core and increase focus. • Exhale on exertion: In strength training, exhale during the effort phase to engage your core and stabilize your spine. • Guide mobility with breath: During rotational or flexibility drills, use inhales to create space and exhales to deepen movement. • Breathe nasally during light to moderate cardio to improve oxygen utilization and maintain better breathing patterns. • Elongate exhalations to recover: Post-workout, practice the 2:1 exhale-to-inhale ratio to downregulate your nervous system. Remember, your breath isn't just a background function. By restoring proper breathing, you support better posture, deeper core strength, smoother movement and a more resilient nervous system. So the next time your neck feels tight or your shoulders ache, don't immediately try to stretch it out. Check your breath first. It may be telling you exactly what you need to know. Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How To Make Well Water Safe To Drink
If your home uses well water, you might assume it's pure because it comes from deep underground, but that's not always the case. It's different from city water, which is treated and tested regularly by local authorities. Private wells are the homeowner's responsibility, so any contamination must be checked by you. Well water can be affected by naturally occurring minerals (like iron and arsenic) as well as contaminants like bacteria, nitrates, pesticides, and heavy metals; especially if the well is shallow or located near agriculture or septic systems. The Cleveland Clinic notes that even clear and odorless water might contain dangerous microbes like E. coli or cryptosporidium. Drinking untreated or poorly filtered well water could lead to gastrointestinal illness, reproductive issues, or other long-term health effects, particularly in children and immunocompromised individuals. That's why the first and most critical step to making well water safe is testing it. You should have a well tested at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, pH, and dissolved solids. If your well is near a farm, landfill, or septic system, more frequent testing is recommended. Most local health departments offer test kits or referrals to certified laboratories, as this is the only way to know for sure what's in your water. Once you know what the problem is, you can learn how to treat it effectively. Read more: Discontinued Costco Grocery Products We Probably Won't Get Back Post-COVID, people have been very aware of what they put into their bodies. Water has proven to be a point of contention, in this regard. We're told that you shouldn't drink bottled water, you shouldn't drink water on an airplane, and so on. Checking your well is just an extension of that same preventative health care. Once well water has been tested and you know what you're dealing with, the next step is treatment. There's not one sole solution you can turn to in every circumstance, which means the filtration system you pick should target the specific contaminants found in your well. Most homeowners need a multi-stage approach that covers multiple bases. For sediment and larger particles like sand or rust, a simple pre-filter will usually do the trick. But for more complex issues like bacteria, heavy metals, or high mineral content, you'll need a more advanced filtration system. A common setup starts with a whole-house sediment filter followed by a carbon filter (to reduce chlorine-like tastes and organic compounds). If you have hard water (high in calcium or magnesium), a water softener may also be needed. For pathogens like E. coli or giardia, the CDC recommends a UV light purification system which kills microbes without adding chemicals. Reverse osmosis systems can also remove nitrates, arsenic, and heavy metals, but they often work best in conjunction with other filters. In general, homeowners who've tackled this issue before say combining multiple systems offers the most protection. And while some setups may be costly up front, investing in the safety of your home's drinking water is always worth it. Installing a high-quality filtration system is only half the battle, as keeping your well water safe requires regular upkeep. The CDC emphasizes the importance of routine maintenance for both the well and filtration components. Just like how you need to change the water filter for your fridge, you have to do the same for any other water filter system in your home. For starters, inspect the well annually to check for cracks in the casing, changes in water clarity or smell, and signs of contamination from nearby sources like flooding or agricultural runoff. Filters and UV bulbs need regular replacement to remain effective. Neglecting this step can lead to bacteria slipping through or cause a buildup of harmful substances in your system. Most manufacturers include a replacement schedule and it's wise to log changes so nothing goes unnoticed. By retesting your water once a year -- or after any major environmental change like a storm or flood -- you'll be able to catch new threats early. Long-term safety also means keeping the area around your well clean. Don't store chemicals or fuel nearby and maintain a safe distance between the well and septic system. If the well is old or shallow, consider upgrading to a deeper or sealed model to reduce the risk of surface contamination. Safe drinking water starts with awareness and ends with you taking action. If you keep up with routine testing, proper filtration, and maintenance, well water is just as safe, and often better-tasting, than municipal supplies. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
