1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has proposed eliminating federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. Since its launch in 2022, this program has supported over 1.2 million individuals. Cutting this funding would take away vital resources for LGBTQ+ youth, who face a higher risk of suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 14 and 25 to 34 and the third leading cause for individuals aged 15 to 24. The Trevor Project's 2023 survey revealed that nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth considered suicide in the past year. Removing these specialized services could lead to preventable tragedies. I urge you to oppose this funding cut and advocate for continued support services for LGBTQ+ youth. Access to mental health resources is a matter of life and death. Please take action to protect this vulnerable community.