This time of year can be a joyous and/or sad time for those in the LGBTQ community. For queer individuals who don’t have safety nets in place this holiday season, it is hard to know where to turn for support; and with President Trump, over the summer, slashing the 988 young LGBTQ+ specialized support hotline for suicide prevention, it is more important than ever that the community knows where they can access support. If the holidays are a rough time, here are a few places to reach out to:
While NAMI will be officially closed from December 22 to January 2, the NAMI Helpline will still be available Monday through Friday from 8am-8pm PST. They are reachable by phone at 800-950-6264; you can text ”Helpline” to 62640; and they will also be available via web chat. In addition, the Fresno office will remain open every remaining day of the year, except for Christmas Day on Dec. 25, for all support group meetings.
988 Lifeline is still an invaluable resource for those who are experiencing a crisis. Available via voice, text, and chat.
The Trevor Project offers immediate crisis support 24/7, 365 days a year. They can be reached by phone at 1-866-488-7386, by texting “START” to 678-678, and by web chatting.
Run by and for trans people, Trans Lifeline will be offering peer support during the holidays; they can be reached at 877-565-8860. Their hours from Monday, Dec. 22 to Friday, Dec. 26, will be from 10am – 1pm PST.
Wishing the community a safe holiday season!
