SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN CRISIS

​40% of young LGBTQ people have seriously considered suicide in the last year.

That's just one of the many disturbing findings of The Trevor Project's annual survey of LGBTQ youth under 25 years old. The survey, which focuses on LGBTQ youth's mental health, was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020, right before the onset of the coronavirus crisis.

The Trevor Project's research also revealed:

• 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their LGBTQ identity
• 46% of LGBTQ youth said they wanted counseling from a mental health professional but were unable to receive it in the past 12 months
• 86% of LGBTQ youth said recent politics have negatively impacted their well-being, up from 76% last year

In my role as an Adult Advisor for the New Bedford Gay and Lesbian Alliance (NB-AGLY), I've seen up close how mental health disparities make life so much more challenging for LGBTQ+ youth, not just on the South Coast but everywhere.

What can we do to support LGBTQ+ youth? Some bright spots in the research indicate that support from peers, friends, and family as well as respect for their identity are two key factors that positively affect LGBTQ+ youth's mental health and outlook. For example:

• 12% of those who reported at least one in-person LGBTQ-affirming space attempted suicide in the past year compared to 20% of LGBTQ youth without in-person LGBTQ-affirming spaces.
• 13% of youth who reported high levels of support from family, friends, or a special person reported attempting suicide in the past year compared to 22% of those with lower levels of support.
• 78% of LGBTQ+ youth transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected.

NB-AGLY A Perfect Place is a safe space where LGBTQ+ youth can feel valued, meet new people, and freely express who they are. We are here for you. Until we can reopen our downtown New Bedford location, we will be hosting weekly Zoom chats and outdoor activities on Thursdays at 5 p.m. Join our Facebook page for details. 

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, contact The Trevor Project's TrevorLifeline 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat every day or by texting "START" to 678-678.

With love,
Traci
She/Her/Hers
[email protected]