988 remains inclusive of LGBTQ+ Community 

The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line, supported by the Behavioral Health Administration and the 988 Enterprise Board of Directors, today affirmed its unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, accessible, and responsive care to all individuals in Colorado. This commitment includes youth and other higher-risk populations, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.  

“988 Colorado will continue to serve as a trusted lifeline for all people in Colorado in need of immediate mental and behavioral health support without exception,” said Gordon Coombes, Director of the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line. The organization is also actively reviewing how state resources can be utilized to support additional outreach and education efforts to ensure all Coloradans are aware of the continuous, inclusive support available.” 

This announcement comes in response to the recent decision by the Trump administration to discontinue the national LGBTQ+ 988 support hotline beginning July 17. While the federally mandated change removes the “Press 3” option that previously connected callers to a separate support line designed to serve the LGBTQ+ community, 988 Colorado emphasized that all calls, texts, and chats originating from Colorado will continue to be answered by trained professionals. These professionals remain equipped to respond to a wide range of needs and experiences, as well as to serve all members of every community in Colorado. 

 

Colorado Behavioral Health Administration 

The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is a new cabinet member-led agency within the State of Colorado, housed within the Department of Human Services and is designed to be the single entity responsible for driving coordination and collaboration across state agencies to address behavioral health needs. Find us online at bha.colorado.gov or follow us on social media at @BHAConnect.