Iowa City-based CommUnity Crisis Services is facing layoffs following the termination of a suicide crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
On June 17, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced it was shuttering the subservice line – also known as the “Press 3 option” – to “focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option,” according to its website.
As a result, CommUnity will be laying off 49 employees effective July 17, the same day the subservice line is discontinued.
“The current environment has been very hard on LGBTQ youth, who already experience a greater rate of suicidal ideation than their peers – taking away an important support for these youth during a time of crisis is likely to result in the loss of life,” Sarah Nelson, CEO of CommUnity, wrote the CBJ in an email. “I cannot emphasize enough how critical lifesaving services like 988 or mobile crisis response are for youth in our community, and across the country.”
Ms. Nelson emphasized that 988 will continue to support all callers, including LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
“Since the LGBTQ line was a ‘press 3’ option off of 988, callers can still contact 988 to be routed to the next available crisis counselor via text or phone,” she wrote. “The concern is due to the specialized training of the counselors who answered the LGBTQ+ line, and if core 988 will be appropriately staffed to answer the volume that was formerly routed to the LGBTQ line.”
‘Press 3 option’ fielded nearly 1.5 million contacts
CommUnity is one of seven organizations nationwide providing specialized support to LGBTQ youth and young adults through the 988 Lifeline and whose funding was cut prematurely.
Launched as a pilot program in fiscal year 2022 through a federal agreement with a third-party provider, the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” option received $29.7 million in dedicated funding under the FY2023 omnibus spending bill. That funding rose to $33 million in FY2024, according to SAMHSA.
“As of June 2025, more than $33 million in funds have been spent to support the subnetworks, fully expending the monies allocated for 988 Lifeline LGB+ subnetwork services,” its website stated.
The 988 LGBTQ+ line handled 69,057 calls, chats, and texts in May, marking a 35% increase from May 2024 and a 97% jump since data tracking began in September 2022, according to SAMHSA’s latest figures.
Approximately 9% of all 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline contacts – totaling 1.49 million – have been routed through the LGBTQ+ line since it launched, Ms. Nelson said.
“Without additional 988 funding going to states, or 988 centers that back up state centers like CommUnity, (calls) could result in longer wait times,” she wrote.
CommUnity will continue answering 988 crisis calls for Iowans, operating Mobile Crisis Outreach for Johnson and Iowa counties, and offering statewide Youth Crisis Stabilization services at Healing Prairie Farm, Ms. Nelson said. The organization will also maintain its food bank and financial assistance programs to support residents facing economic hardship.
“We remain dedicated to youth suicide prevention and intervention through all of our crisis programs that serve residents of the State of Iowa. CommUnity will continue to employ over 150 staff at the conclusion of the July 17th layoffs,” she wrote, calling the loss of the 49 staff members “heartbreaking.”
CommUnity last faced layoffs in September 2023, when 100 employees were let go after New York-based Vibrant Emotional Health – administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – chose not to renew a contract for backup chat and text support services.
