INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A leaked draft of the proposed federal budget shows a funding cut for the 988 Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline counselors who specialize in helping LGBTQ+ youth.

The 988 service offers a lifeline to youths who have no where to turn in their darkest moments. The 988 service provides emotional support to people in crisis and contemplating suicide, but the talk line also provides specialized counselors for the LGBTQ+ plus community so its members can talk to someone who understands.

One Indianapolis advocate said the loss of federal funding could have disastrous consequences.

“People will die,” said Chris Paulsen, CEO of Indiana Youth Group.

The youth organization aims to create safer spaces to the foster community, and provide programming that empowers LGBTQ+ young people and magnifies their voices.

Paulsen said the specialized counselors at 988 are key. “When you have gone through it you know how to talk to young people about what they’re experiencing, and it’s always good for them to see an adult that has made it through that tough phase,” Paulsen said.

Paulsen said young people often choose to text 988 because they are not in a safe living situation. “Then let the person know that they are LGBTQ, or whatever specialty counselor they want to talk to, and that person is patched through to them.”

A survey from The Trevor Project, a national survey on the mental health of youths, says 40% of LGBTQ+ youths have contemplated suicide in the last year. “And that number is rising with the rhetoric we’re seeing both political and throughout the U.S.,” Paulsen said.

If the budget draft becomes a reality, The Trevor Project said funding for 988 could go away as soon as October.

Another Indianapolis advocate for LGBTQ+ youths is The Damien Center. The mental health service provides care to clients regardless of their ability to pay.

Alan Witchey, the president and CEO of The Damien Center, said of the potential federal action, “This funding should not be cut because it’s critical.”

“Suicide rates, depression, anxiety rates among LGBTQ+ populations are much higher than heterosexual populations. So, cutting off this would mean there would be no options for people.”

Witchey also said 988 is crucial for rural parts of Indiana. “They need ways to connect that are beyond a local support system because the local support system just doesn’t exist a lot of times,” Witchey said.

“It’s a critical lifeline for people that we see without this funding I have no doubt depression rates, anxiety rates, attempted suicides and suicide rates will increase in this state,” Witchey said.

The advocated also encouraged people to talk to their elected representatives about the need for 988 to serve youths with mental health needs.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day across the United States and its territories.

The budget draft shows money would remain for some other specialized services of 988, such as Spanish speakers.

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