The Trevor Project’s Post

🤔 How can we, as educators and community leaders, transform our spaces into sanctuaries of support for LGBTQ+ teens? As a NYC educator transitioning into mental health therapy… I’ve seen the profound impact of inclusivity on the mental well-being of LGBTQ+ adolescents. Fostering Acceptance: Inclusivity starts with acceptance. It’s about affirming LGBTQ+ identities, not merely tolerating them. We need to create environments where every teen feels seen, heard, and valued for who they are. This acceptance is foundational to their mental health and overall well-being. Safe Spaces and Support Systems: Building safe spaces isn’t just about physical safety; it’s about emotional and psychological safety too. This means having open, non-judgmental communication channels, and support systems that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ teens. Education and Awareness: Awareness is key to combating stigma and misinformation. It’s crucial to educate not just the teens but also their peers, educators, and families. Knowledge breeds empathy, and empathy fosters a supportive community. Proactive Mental Health Support: Mental health support tailored to LGBTQ+ teens is vital. It involves understanding their specific experiences and providing resources and counseling that resonate with their unique journey. Empowering Through Representation: Visibility matters. Including LGBTQ+ voices and stories in curricula and discussions helps normalize these experiences, showing teens they are not alone. - - - 📣 Take Action Today: Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ teens? 💻 Visit https://lnkd.in/e4Bz4Ysw to collaborate on creating inclusive, empathetic environments that nurture the mental health of our youth. #LGBTQSupport #InclusiveEducation #MentalHealthMatters

Celebrating Pride and Prioritizing Mental Health As Pride Month draws to an end, it's crucial to highlight the importance of good mental health, especially for our gay, lesbian, and transgender friends and family. Mental health challenges disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community. Did you know… -      LGBTQ+ individuals are more than twice as likely as their heterosexual peers to experience a mental health condition. This includes higher rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders (NAMI, 2021). -      A staggering 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide, compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population. (The Trevor Project, 2022). These numbers are a call to action for us to create supportive, inclusive environments. Here are a few ways we can make a difference: - Promote a culture of respect and empathy around you. Others will follow your example. - Support mental health initiatives and help make mental health services accessible to the LGBTQ+ community. - Be an ally. Stand up and speak out against discrimination and stigma. Unfortunately, prejudice against LGBTQ+ people still exists, and their freedoms and existence are being challenged more and more every day. We can ensure that Pride Month is more than just a celebration, but also a reminder to foster well-being and good mental health of the LGBTQ+ community. Let's make this month, and every month, a time of acceptance and support for all.

🤔 How can we, as educators and community leaders, transform our spaces into sanctuaries of support for LGBTQ+ teens? As a NYC educator transitioning into mental health therapy… I’ve seen the profound impact of inclusivity on the mental well-being of LGBTQ+ adolescents. Fostering Acceptance: Inclusivity starts with acceptance. It’s about affirming LGBTQ+ identities, not merely tolerating them. We need to create environments where every teen feels seen, heard, and valued for who they are. This acceptance is foundational to their mental health and overall well-being. Safe Spaces and Support Systems: Building safe spaces isn’t just about physical safety; it’s about emotional and psychological safety too. This means having open, non-judgmental communication channels, and support systems that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ teens. Education and Awareness: Awareness is key to combating stigma and misinformation. It’s crucial to educate not just the teens but also their peers, educators, and families. Knowledge breeds empathy, and empathy fosters a supportive community. Proactive Mental Health Support: Mental health support tailored to LGBTQ+ teens is vital. It involves understanding their specific experiences and providing resources and counseling that resonate with their unique journey. Empowering Through Representation: Visibility matters. Including LGBTQ+ voices and stories in curricula and discussions helps normalize these experiences, showing teens they are not alone. - - - 📣 Take Action Today: Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ teens? 💻 Visit https://lnkd.in/eHpenwPw to collaborate on creating inclusive, empathetic environments that nurture the mental health of our youth. #LGBTQSupport #InclusiveEducation #MentalHealthMatters

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is hosting a webinar on Understanding Stigma and Discrimination as Drivers of Mental Health Disparities for Diverse Rural, LGBTQ+ Communities, tomorrow, August 22nd, from 1:30-3:00pm ET. This webinar will present the goals and procedures of the Rural Engagement and Approaches For LGBTQ+ Mental Health (REALM) study, which is developing a longitudinal cohort of diverse #LGBTQ+ adults residing in rural and small metropolitan communities across the United States. Employing a minority stress framework, REALM aims to determine the following: whether types of stigma, discrimination, and traumatic experiences vary across LGBTQ+ groups; how these exposures are associated with increased prevalence and incidence of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts; and if and how proximal minority stress-related factors mediate and/or moderate these associations. This is the first webinar of the 2024 Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity Webinar Series. The series is designed for investigators conducting or interested in conducting research on #mentalhealth disparities, women’s mental health, minority mental health, and rural mental health. ➡ Access the REALM study: https://lnkd.in/ei9ewuBq ➡ Register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gkkRzFyX

Today marks the start of LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK. While many things have changed since the repeal of Section 28, we know that the LGBTQ+ community remains especially vulnerable to mental health problems including low self-esteem, depression and suicidal thoughts. What’s more, many still experience stigma and social isolation at school, work and in the community. It is our aim here at BWW Mind to ensure that everyone in our community is understood, included and treated equally. This means equal access to mental health support services and working with employers to boost inclusion at work. Our training team delivers workshops to employers, helping them to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We have a range of intersectional mental health workshops. You can pick one of the following, or even better, choose all three! - Intersectional Mental Health: LGBTQIA+ Community - Intersectional Mental Health: Cultural Inclusion and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds - Intersectional Mental Health: Special Abilities If what you are looking for is not included here, please do get in touch as our team can create bespoke workshops tailored to your organisation’s needs. Join us this month and make a stand against inequality. Diversity & Inclusion webpage: https://lnkd.in/d-cn_5rK

🌈✨ June is Pride Month! ✨🌈 This month, we celebrate love, diversity, and acceptance—core values that uplift us all. #PrideMonth is not only a time for parades and festivities; it's a vital period for reflecting on the journey of the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing the mental health challenges many still face. 🏳️🌈 Mental Health Awareness: LGBTQ+ individuals often face unique stressors, including discrimination, stigma, and exclusion. These challenges can significantly impact mental health, making support, understanding, and acceptance crucial. 💬 Open Conversations: Let's use this month to start conversations, share stories, and spread knowledge. Understanding and empathy are powerful tools in combating mental health stigma. 🤝 Support and Resources: Remember, you are not alone. There are numerous resources available, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Let's ensure everyone has access to the mental health care they need and deserve. Let’s celebrate Pride by advocating for inclusivity and mental well-being for all. Love loudly, support fiercely, and let's strive for a healthier, more accepting world.

Imagine walking into a room and not knowing if you’ll face more misunderstanding for being Black, LGBTQ, or having autism. This isn’t about choosing which part of your identity feels more oppressed today; it’s about how these identities interact, complicate, and enrich each other’s existence. Creating safe space will help us utilize the talents and abilities of young Black LGBTQ autistic people to better our society. #AutismInBlack #BlackAutismAwareness #MelaninAndAutism #AutismAwareness #AutismAwarenessMonth #BlackAutismSupport #EmpowerBlackAutism

🤔 How can we create a world where LGBTQ+ teens feel truly supported and understood? As a NYC educator transitioning into mental health therapy, I’ve dedicated myself to this question. It’s more than just acceptance; it’s about actively creating inclusive environments where these young individuals can thrive. 1️⃣Understanding Their World: LGBTQ+ teens navigate a complex landscape of identity formation and social pressures. It’s essential to understand their unique experiences to offer meaningful support. This means recognizing the diverse challenges they face, from societal stigma to personal struggles with self-acceptance. 2️⃣Creating Safe, Inclusive Spaces: Inclusion starts with education. Schools, businesses, and community organizations must strive to educate themselves and their members about LGBTQ+ issues. This fosters a culture of understanding and respect. Safe spaces where teens can express themselves without fear are crucial. These are environments where their identities are not just accepted but celebrated. 3️⃣Active Listening and Empathy: Empathy is the cornerstone of mental health support. It involves actively listening to their experiences and validating their feelings. As a clinician-in-training, I’ve seen the profound impact that genuine understanding and empathy can have on a teen’s mental well-being. 4️⃣Tailored Mental Health Resources: LGBTQ+ teens require mental health resources that are specifically tailored to their experiences. This includes access to counselors who are trained in LGBTQ+ issues and support groups where they can connect with peers who share similar experiences. 📣 Take Action Today: Are you ready to be a part of this transformative journey? - - - Whether you’re a small business, school, or community organization, join me in making a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ teens. 💻 Visit Tsincla https://lnkd.in/eHpenwPw to learn how we can collaborate to create more inclusive and supportive environments. #LGBTQSupport #InclusiveEducation #MentalHealthMatters

There's no denying the stark statistics surrounding LGBTQIA+ adverse mental health outcomes. These figures become even more concerning when we consider the impact on Black, Latine, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Within our health care system, medical mistrust runs deep—for good reason and with significant repercussions. Trigger warning: Take, for instance, this troubling data from The Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ+ high schoolers of color face a higher likelihood of attempting suicide (27%) compared to their LGBTQ+ counterparts (22%) and non-LGBTQ+ peers (5%) in the U.S. These statistics aren't just numbers; they represent individuals within our community. Our community's safety starts with prioritizing the mental and emotional well-being of all individuals, especially within the LGBTQIA+ population. Representation in the medical field is crucial to dealing with these issues head-on—did you know that less than 1% of health care workers identify as trans or nonbinary? (Source: AAMC) Together, we can make a difference– LGBTQIA+ #MentalHealth affects us all. This #Pride Month, remember to prioritize self-care and celebrate your pride and allyship. The mentioned resources offer a valuable starting point; it's never too late to prioritize your mental well-being and support that of others!

Is LGBTQ+ therapy important? Yes! I find that being gender non-conforming and transgender had led to a greater understanding of both at risk populations and communities, and generally greater insight and empathy for individuals with disabilities. Much of my work has been in behavioral health, beginning with clinical case management and then as a social worker focusing on individual and group work using affirmative therapy, stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and briefly with DBT. I had my own difficulty in coming out while at the same time, helping others. Historically, we need to remember it was not long ago when alternate identities in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity were either criminalized or viewed as disorders. This still impacts us all in that LGBT people often do not adequately address medical or behavioral health needs. There is also, generally, a greater incidence of disability generally in communities that are a significant proportion of the population in the USA. I add that I often need to travel an hour beyond my town to receive basic medical services with professionals trained to be sensitive to communities and networks of people who are too often marginalized. I see this changing, but a lot needs to be done. So, we need to keep up not only with developments in evidence based practices; we also need to increase knowledge of under served minorities in our communities. Here New York State has been increasingly progressive in its legal acceptance, yet much work needs to be done, including in health care.