BRIANNA SCOTT
A high number of #LGBTQ teens and #youth struggle with #mentalhealthissues, according to a new survey by The Trevor Project.
Forty percent of young #LGBTQ people have considered #suicide in the last year; that rises to more than half for #trans and non-binary #youth.
That’s according to the second annual survey on #LGBTQ #youth #mentalhealth by The Trevor Project. The non-profit organization provides crisis intervention and #suicideprevention services to #LGBTQ people under the age of 25.
Two years of data isn’t enough to show trends, says clinical psychologist Amy Green, who is also the director of research at The Trevor Project. But what they do show, she says, is that “the numbers are high and staying high, in terms of #mentalhealth.”
“#LGBTQ youth already deal with housing instability, food insecurity and trouble accessing #healthcare,” she says. “All of that is exacerbated by a #pandemic.”
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Help is available
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.
More than 40,000 people, age 13 to 24, responded to the survey, which The Trevor Project says is the largest of its kind. It was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020 — as #COVID-19 restrictions began to take hold.
Many students and recent graduates had to decide whether to move back in with their families.
Mia Soza
For 24-year old Mia Soza, going home was not an option. Soza moved to Nashville earlier this year. She quit her job at a flower shop when the #stress of dealing with racist customers got to be too much. Living in a new city was already hard; the #pandemic and unemployment only added to the pressure.
Soza says she hasn’t met anyone in Nashville who she can relate to about being “#queer and brown.”
“I am very unstable right now,” Soza says. “I am lucky to be living with friends. But I don’t receive any support from my parents, largely because they don’t really accept me because of my identity. They are Trump supporters and also Latino.”
Home But Not Safe, Some #LGBTQ Young People Face Rejection From Families in Lockdown
That sentiment is reflected in the survey results as well: 86% of #LGBTQ #youth said recent politics have negatively impacted their well-being, up from 76% last year.
While it’s “liberating to feel the comfort of knowing” who she is, Soza says she feels like a lot of things haven’t changed since her middle and high school days. “I feel very much like that kid, there is no one to talk to.”
The survey found that 46% of #LGBTQ youth said they wanted counseling from a #mentalhealthprofessional but were unable to receive it in the past 12 months. The top barriers were affordability and parental permission.
Not being accepted by family members also can have an impact on #mentalhealth. Six out of 10 #LGBTQ youth said that someone — a relative, religious leader — tried to convince them to change their sexuality or gender.
But even those who live in an accepting family face challenges.
Madison Hall was laid off from her job in February and had plans to go home to visit her parents in March. But her two-week stay turned into multiple months due to the #pandemic. The 23-year-old says it’s the longest she’s spent with her parents since coming out to them as #trans.
Hall says her parents were always affirming. Yet, she says, she still wasn’t comfortable being her full self in front of them when she moved back in. She characterizes the process as a “trust exercise,” requiring much back and forth.
Madison Hall
“Yes, I’m her daughter and child, but those ‘Let me dress you up’ kind of bonds that stem from #childhood aren’t necessarily there,” Hall says of her mom. “She wants to be let in, and I have to let my parents in. I think that’s probably a good metaphor to transitioning in general for me. It’s letting them know a little, little by little, until we’re on the same page.”
The time together is improving Hall’s relationship with her parents, and she says it’s had a positive effect on her #mentalhealth.
Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project, says that one affirming adult can have a big impact on #LGBTQ #youth.
“We saw that #LGBTQ young people who have an accepting adult in their lives were 40% less likely to attempt #suicide, which is is a huge impact from a public health perspective,” he said during an interview with NPR.
Rhys Hilicki, 17, also has supportive parents. When he came out to them as trans two years ago, Hilicki says they began calling him by his correct name and pronouns almost immediately.
Rhys Hilicki
“They remind me to take my medicine and my testosterone shots, they’ve supported me through my transition and helped me financially with it,” he says. “And they’ve really helped me come out of my shell.”
Hilicki says knowing his parents see him fully helps with his #depression and #anxiety.
Feelings like these are common among #LGBTQ youth: 68% percent said they’d experienced generalized #anxiety disorder in the past two weeks at the time of the survey, including more than three in four #transgender and non-binary #youth.
Paley says he hopes the survey results help inform efforts to improve #mentalhealth outcomes for the community.
“The reason they face these elevated risks of #suicide is not because there is something inherently wrong with #LGBTQ people,” he says. “The reason that they are facing these negative outcomes is because of the discrimination and bias that exists in society today.”
The survey found one in three #LGBTQ #youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their #LGBTQ identity. Paley says support from parents and guardians can save lives.
“We hope that people will see those stories of parents who are understanding that when someone comes out it doesn’t change who they are,” he says. “It’s just a part of their identity and it allows them to hopefully be their fuller selves.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
