A national suicide hotline aimed at helping the LGBTQ community is expanding its services, now offering text and chat services 24/7.
The government-backed 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline started offering a pilot program for the LGBTQ community in September after $7.2 million in funding was provided by the federal U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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But the chat and text options of the pilot program were only available at select hours. Now they will be offered around-the-clock.
From the start of the program through the end of February, about 11% of chats and texts coming through the lifeline have been for the LGBTQ specialists, along with 6% of calls, a SAMHSA official told ABC News. Those accounted for about 138,000 total contacts.
Anyone experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises is asked to call the three-digit line at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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LGBTQ youth and adults can dial 3 after reaching the main hotline to be routed to a counselor specially trained to support their needs.
You can also go online to the lifeline here.