On World Mental Health Day, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 727, a new law aimed at expanding mental health support for LGBTQ youth across California. The law requires that student ID cards in public middle schools, high schools, and colleges display contact information for The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth.
Introduced by Assemblymember Mark González of Los Angeles, AB 727 was developed in response to the Trump administration’s rollback of LGBTQ suicide prevention initiatives. The bill targets alarming statistics from The Trevor Project, which reveal that 35% of LGBTQ youth in California seriously considered suicide in the past year, and half did not receive the care they needed.
“Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen for who they are,” said Newsom. “While some in Washington turn their backs on LGBTQ youth, California is choosing compassion over cruelty.”
The Trevor Project provides 24/7 confidential counseling for LGBTQ youth, and California has strengthened its support through new competency training for 988 crisis counselors, launched in July, to help them better serve LGBTQ individuals.
This initiative aligns with the state’s broader Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, which seeks to build an equitable and responsive mental health system for young Californians.
Beyond crisis response, California also extends digital mental health support through programs like CalHOPE, which connects youth and families to peer counselors. Partnerships with BrightLife Kids and Soluna ensure free access to mental health services, regardless of insurance, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
All providers working with these programs undergo specialized training to engage effectively with LGBTQ youth and their families—reinforcing California’s ongoing commitment to inclusive, accessible mental health care.
Leave a Reply