CW/TW Warning: This article mentions su●c●de
TML recognizes that In times of crisis, the hardest thing can be recognizing you need help, and asking for help. For LGBTQ+ individuals, those moments of need are often compounded by the unique struggles our community faces—discrimination, rejection, or the crushing weight of isolation. That’s why the Crisis Text Line has become a beacon of hope, and we need to shout about it from the rooftops (and the internet). If you haven’t heard of this resource yet, it’s time to add it to your mental health toolkit—and we’re throwing it into the TMLri as a must-know resource for the queer community.
A Lifeline at Your Fingertips
The Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7, confidential text support for anyone in crisis. It’s as simple as sending a message to get connected with a trained counselor ready to help guide you through the darkness. The magic, though, is in its accessibility. When you’re in a mental health spiral, sometimes speaking feels impossible. Texting offers a lifeline that’s immediate, quiet, and non-judgmental, and available where we’re at, physically and emotionally.
For LGBTQ+ people, who are often underserved and marginalized in healthcare settings, having a safe space to reach out can be lifesaving. Whether you’re dealing with the fallout of coming out, enduring harassment, struggling with gender dysphoria, or facing suicidal thoughts, a quick text can connect you to someone who gets it.
Why Does It Matter?
According to research, LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their cishet peers1 , and mental health issues are skyrocketing in our community2—thanks, in part, to the sustained political and social attacks on our identities. Trans folx in particular face sky-high rates of depression and anxiety, often linked to systemic issues like healthcare access, discrimination, and isolation.
For LGBTQ+ people, who are often underserved and marginalized in healthcare settings, having a safe space to reach out can be lifesaving. A quick text can connect you to someone who gets it.”
By offering this service via text, the Crisis Text Line meets us where we are: often navigating unsafe homes, or dealing with mental health issues that make face-to-face communication feel overwhelming. Texting removes barriers and lowers the threshold for getting help, which is critical when we know that marginalized communities often hesitate to reach out for fear of discrimination or simply not being understood.
How You Can Access It
Using the Crisis Text Line is simple. Text HOME to 741741 (or, for queer-specific resources, LGBTQ to 741741). Within minutes, you’ll be connected to someone who can help you through the crisis, whether it’s suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or simply needing someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through.
They offer Spanish-language support, too, making the resource more inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community who may face additional language barriers when seeking mental health care. También ofrecen apoyo en español, lo que hace que el recurso sea más inclusivo para los miembros de la comunidad LGBTQ+ que puedan enfrentar barreras adicionales de idioma al buscar atención de salud mental.
A Must-Know for Allies and Advocates
For allies, this is a resource you should have in your back pocket, too. Know someone struggling? A quick text could be the gateway to getting the help they need. Crisis Text Line isn’t just for those currently in distress but for anyone who may need support navigating difficult conversations, too.
Adding It to the TMLri: More Than a Resource
In addition to featuring the Crisis Text Line in our latest article, we’re making sure it’s permanently part of the TMLri, our growing queer resource index. The TMLri is designed to be a one-stop guide for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community looking for support—whether that’s mental health services, legal advice, or community groups. This is just one of many steps we’re taking to make sure our community, our people, have access to life-saving resources that truly matter.
So, here’s the takeaway: Share this resource. Use it if you need it. And remember, no matter what you’re going through, help is just a text away.
- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/ ↩︎
- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/assets/static/05_TREVOR05_2023survey.pdf ↩︎