Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: user of facebook)
For the past few months—and especially following Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States and his announcements of massive cuts across all U.S. government services—a rumor has circulated on social media, with some posts being shared more than 144,000 times.
However, the information is false and once again highlights the problem of people who read nothing and comment on everything on Facebook, Instagram, X, and other propaganda platforms.
According to the Canadian Press, in a statement dated April 29, 2025, it was reported:
This week, online posts claimed that Canada would offer its national suicide prevention hotline toll-free to Americans in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s supposed decision to shut down the national suicide hotline in the United States. These claims are misleading. The number shared online belongs to Trans Lifeline, which provides support exclusively to the transgender community in the United States and Canada.
According to U.S. media, the Trump administration plans to eliminate services for LGBTQ+ youth offered through the national suicide prevention hotline, but the hotline itself would not be entirely shut down.
THE CLAIM
On Friday, a report from U.S. media outlet CNN stated that President Donald Trump’s administration was considering cutting LGBTQ+ youth services from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as part of broader funding cuts.
A post shared on the X platform, formerly Twitter, claimed that Canada would offer its national suicide prevention hotline free of charge to Americans in response to the proposed budget cuts.
RATING: Misleading
The number 1-877-330-6366 actually belongs to Trans Lifeline, a service for transgender people in both Canada and the United States.
Unlike the national suicide prevention hotlines in Canada and the U.S., Trans Lifeline’s services are specifically for the transgender community and are not available 24/7.
“Our hotline is being incorrectly shared as ‘Canada’s national suicide hotline open toll-free for Americans,’” the organization wrote in a Facebook post.
“We are not a general crisis hotline; we exist exclusively to support the trans community.”
The number shared online is the Canadian version of the hotline; a separate number exists for the United States.
In both Canada and the United States, individuals struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 at any time to connect with the national suicide crisis hotline.
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