by The Trevor Project’s 2024 Study on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, 39% of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including 46% of transgender and non-binary youth. Additionally, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 17 have experienced bullying in the past year. A 2024 survey also reported that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said the recent “culture wars” over gay rights were having a negative impact on their well-being.
The onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ laws targeting young people’s access to health care, dignity in school, and participation in sports teams has exacerbated already high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. We are living in a pressure cooker moment that is having a devastating impact on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.
But queer and trans youth don’t have to face this moment or these challenges alone.
As an LGBTQ+ youth service provider, my team works every day to support youth through mental health counseling, social supports, housing, youth leadership, and community education. In her 40 years of service, we have seen how being proactive in supporting queer and trans youth can save lives.
According to research, Having at least one LGBTQ-affirming adult in a young person’s life can reduce their risk of attempting suicide by nearly 40%. We work with parents and carers to help adults become the kind of people they are.
If you’re looking for a place to start supporting LGBTQ+ youth, I’d like to share some tips.
- Create a safe and supportive environment A place where children feel accepted and loved for who they are.
- listen actively By encouraging open conversation, listening non-judgmentally, and validating their feelings and experiences.
- educate yourself Learn about LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and issues to better understand and support your child.
- respect their identity By using their preferred names and pronouns, respecting their journey, and avoiding the pressure to conform to societal norms.
- their spokesperson By standing up to discrimination and bullying and advocating for inclusive policies in our schools and communities.
- encourage self-care By helping them develop healthy coping mechanisms and practices. Encourage activities that promote mental and emotional well-being.
- Celebrate achievements and milestones By recognizing their successes, big and small.
- Support their positive friendships and relationships By helping you build connections with positive peers and mentors.
- lead by example By showing acceptance and respect for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Respect the need for privacy And allow them to share their identities at their own pace. By following these tips, parents and guardians can make a significant contribution to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.
- Be proactive about mental health By paying attention to signs of distress and mental health problems. Please seek professional help if necessary.
- Connect and ask for support Work with an LGBTQ+ support group, therapist, or counselor who has experience affirming and working with LGBTQ+ youth.
Just as young people don’t have to go through this alone; neither do you.
Affirming mental health counselors can help you and your child by addressing the unique challenges LGBTQ+ youth often face: identity, coming out, discrimination, family acceptance, etc. Counselors trained in LGBTQ+ issues acknowledge and validate the experiences and identities of queer and trans youth, which can significantly improve self-esteem and mental health.
By finding a therapist who affirms your child, you are investing not only in their mental health and overall well-being, but in yours as well. These therapists can also be important resources for you, helping to provide education, understanding, and guidance.
Despite young people’s overwhelming desire to seek mental health care, barriers to access still exist. From financial burdens and stigma to a lack of positive therapists, fear of being misunderstood, and an inability to find a therapist who speaks their language.
In addition to integrating respect and affirmation within the home to support LGBTQ+ youth, we must do more as a community to ensure that youth who seek support receive it. Members of our community must invest in the next generation by ensuring mental health support is available, positive and empowering. Only by doing so can LGBTQ+ youth grow.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are all committed to becoming partners in better supporting young people’s mental health by creating welcoming environments at home, working with positive therapists, and reducing barriers to access. let’s go.
Brittni Dash Director of Clinical Services. Sumial There, she oversees the organization’s mental health counseling program for LGBTQ+ youth. Brittni brings over 15 years of experience to her work, providing therapy to individuals, groups, families, and couples struggling with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, mental health, trauma/abuse, sexuality, and life transitions. We specialize in providing. The same goes for clinical supervision.
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