Canada did not open LGBTQ crisis line to Americans after Trump shutdown

"We suck. But Canada…" muses the caption of a photo shared September 20, 2025 on X.

Text in the image claims that after Trump closed a US LGBTQ suicide and mental health hotline, Canada responded by opening a similar toll-free number for Americans.

The rumor has circulated on X since at least April, as well as Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.

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Screenshot of an X post taken October 1, 2025

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Screenshot of an Instagram post taken October 1, 2025

Since taking office, the Trump administration has rolled back policies serving LGBTQ people and blocked federally-funded diversity research. 

The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced July 17 that it had terminated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ youth (archived here). The agency said "LGB+" callers -- omitting the "TQI" previously included in the hotline description (archived here) -- would still be able to receive assistance at 988, the general crisis number.

Canada on September 29 updated its travel advice for non-binary travelers to the United States, cautioning that a new US government policy recognizing only male and female gender markers could trigger queries for additional documentation.

The northern country's reputation as a progressive foil for the United States has previously inspired numerous misleading claims about supposed liberal policies, some focusing on LGBTQ issues.

Rumors of a Canadian LGBTQ crisis line opening up to Americans are similarly inaccurate.

The number included in many of the posts corresponds to the Canadian contact listed for Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit offering crisis support to trans people (archived here).

According to its website, it operates separate numbers for American and Canadian callers at 877-565-8860 and 877-330-6366, respectively (archived here).

When the posts first started circulating in April, Trans Lifeline shared an announcement calling the rumors about its helpline "incorrect" (archived here).

"Canada has not 'donated' a national suicide hotline number to the U.S. or to LGBTQIA+ communities," the charity said on April 28, clarifying its number is "a peer support line run by and for trans people."

It added: "It is not a general crisis line and is not equipped to support the broader public."

At the time, the prospect of cutting off the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ youth specialized services was only being floated in budget cut proposals by the Trump administration.

Canada operates its own general 988 suicide and crisis hotline (archived here), but Health Canada told AFP on September 24 the number "does not serve the United States."

According to the Canadian government webpage, specialized crisis services are provided through the helpline for youth and Indigenous people but there is no specific option for the LGBTQ community.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recommends LGBTQ people seeking support call Trans Lifeline, the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386 or the SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline at 877-360-5428 (archived here, here and here).

Read more of AFP's reporting on misinformation about US politics here.