Roanoke, Virginia Keely Meadows, 16, told 10 News she still has a lot to discover about herself.
“I’m still discovering my sexuality and stuff like that,” Meadows said.
She considers herself a part of the LGBTQ+ community and says she has worked hard to explore who she really is in terms of gender.
“It was very important to me getting to know myself and discovering my gender identity,” Meadows said.
But the process comes with challenges, especially when it comes to mental health.
“I’ve attempted suicide three times, and it’s been quite a journey from there to where I am now,” she said.
Keeley is not alone: The Trevor Project is a national non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts within the LGBTQ+ community.
A 2023 survey found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered suicide in the past year.
We spoke with psychiatrist Dr. Ryan White to find out more about this startling statistic.
“Being on the LGBTQ spectrum doesn’t necessarily mean they are more susceptible to these disorders, it’s just that they are marginalized and stigmatized for being who they are,” White said.
For Keely, it was a story that hit home: She told me she was bullied in public school and is now homeschooled.
“I don’t know what it was about that environment that made me bully people, but it happened almost daily,” she said.
White said an inclusive school community is key.
“It’s a natural way to help create an inclusive school community, especially when it comes to children. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that village usually comes from the school system,” White said.
White said schools can sometimes be a safe haven for kids whose parents aren’t accepting.
He says early intervention and treatment are key, but the same Trevor Project survey found that 56% of LGBTQ young people who sought mental health care in the past year were unable to get it due to a lack of parental support or other reasons.
That was the polar opposite of Keeley’s experience, but she said she feels deeply for kids who have no one to talk to.
“Not having a supportive parent and no safe place to go can be very harmful and often leads to suicide or self-harm,” she said.
In May, the Rotary Club of Botetourt County donated $3,000 to Botetourt County Public Schools to help support some of their online mental health resources for parents and students. Read more of our coverage here.
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources
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