Andrea Salinas Celebrates Restoration of Specialized 988 Crisis Services for LGBTQI+ Young People

October 1, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Vice-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, celebrated the restoration of specialized crisis services for LGBTQI+ young people through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The LGBTQI+ lifeline resumed on September 30, 2026, more than a year after the Trump Administration ended it in July 2025. Through the restored service, LGBTQI+ young people in crisis can once again connect with counselors specially trained to understand and respond to their unique needs. “When a young person reaches out for help in a moment of crisis, they deserve someone on the other end of the line who understands what they are going through and knows how to help,” said Rep. Salinas. “That is why I fought to protect this lifesaving service, and I am incredibly pleased to see it restored. For me, this is personal. I am the mother of a queer daughter, and I know firsthand how deeply a mental health crisis can affect a family. Every young person deserves to know that when they are struggling, they have somewhere to turn and someone ready to listen.” In July 2025, Rep. Salinas led nearly 100 Members of Congress in urging House appropriators to maintain funding for specialized 988 services for LGBTQI+ youth. Congress later approved funding requiring the Department of Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to restore the program. The specialized “Press 3” option was first established as a pilot in 2022 to connect LGBTQI+ youth and young adults with specialized crisis care. Since its founding, the lifeline has handled nearly 1.5 million calls, texts, and chats from LGBTQI+ young people. Anyone experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis can call, text, or chat 988 to connect with crisis support. ### Issues : Civil Rights Mental Health