CHARLOTTE — North Carolina state health officials have unveiled a new plan to combat the rising suicide rates among Black youth.
The plan includes six key objectives, such as enhancing community-level suicide prevention efforts, improving prevention training, and reducing access to lethal means among Black youth.
[ ALSO READ >> Charlotte’s Hidden Crisis: County-by-County mental health resource guide ]
One of the significant aspects of the plan is to increase the utilization of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has been identified as underutilized.
Channel 9 reported federal funding cuts for suicide prevention services targeting LGBTQ+ youth by the Trump administration earlier this month, which led to the discontinuation of a specific service for this group on July 17.
Despite these cuts, the 9-8-8 hotline remains available for general use, providing a crucial resource for those in crisis.
VIDEO: NAACP Convention honors youth leaders driving social justice and change
This browser does not support the video element.