May 2, 2025
Congressman Mike Lawler, representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, is urging Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to retain the Specialized Services for LGBTQ+ Youth within the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline. This follows reports suggesting that the Department’s budget for FY2026 may eliminate the program.
The 988 Lifeline, available through voice, text, and chat in English and Spanish, launched the specialized services pilot for LGBTQ+ youth in 2022. The service became available 24/7 by March 2023, with over 2,100 daily contacts recorded as of February 2025.
A 2021 study by the CDC revealed that 45% of high school students who seriously contemplated suicide identified as LGBTQ+. Congressman Lawler pointed out that removing these services could lead to increased visits to emergency rooms, more hospitalizations, and prolonged mental health issues, thereby burdening the healthcare system and families.
“The 988 Lifeline has saved countless lives, and for many LGBTQ+ youth, who face disproportionately high risks of suicide, this specialized service is a lifeline in every sense of the word,” Lawler and fellow lawmakers wrote. “We cannot leave our children without critical mental health care. As we’ve said in the letter, we firmly believe in parents’ rights, but we also know that we must ensure young people in crisis receive immediate and compassionate care.”
Lawler warned that the proposed elimination of the specialized services would deprive LGBTQ+ youth of essential mental health support. “These are real, vulnerable young people who urgently need access to mental health care. The reported HHS budget draft would eliminate this specialized lifeline, leaving many LGBTQ+ youth without a compassionate voice in moments of profound distress,” the lawmakers concluded.
Lawler, noted for his bipartisan approach, represents the district just north of New York City, covering parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was recognized as the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, ranking 8th overall.
The full text of the letter is available for review.
