Anytime I get the opportunity to train, speak to, or partner with others in relation to my own lived experience and supporting Trans and Nonbinary young people, it is important to me to underscore that loving and affirming Queer, Trans, and Nonbinary youth and people is suicide prevention. 

For some context, The Trevor Project does a yearly survey of LGBTQ young people and their mental health, this year receiving responses from nearly 35,000 young people ages 12-24 in the US. The 2021 report captures the vast experience these youth have and more so how COVID increased that impact. Additionally, we know that LGBTQ youth in foster care in particular are overrepresented. While 11% of the general population identified as LGBTQ, that number goes up to 30% of youth in foster care. Similarly, 1% of the general population identify as Trans, while 5% of youth in foster care identify as such. The 2021 Trevor Project statistics paint a clear picture that has been further underscored in the Surgeon General’s Youth mental health report: Young people are more open than ever to discussing their wellbeing, and we as a society aren’t yet able to meet their needs.

I hope that we see these warnings and act before this further impacts a generation of young people. One resource I’m continuously grateful for is a program called A Home Within (AHW), which matches current or former youth and adults who experienced the child welfare system with a free therapist that offers up their services pro bono to clients. My AHW therapist is a lovely human who holds space for all of my identity and struggles while reminding me of who I am. Having to not worry about cost and being able to simply call to set up an appointment as long as she has availability has been a game changer. If you are a counselor or therapist who might be able to volunteer a small portion of your practice time, please consider connecting with AHW. If you know a young person who might benefit from this service, please share it with them! Lastly but certainly not least, visit Trans Lifeline or call US (877) 565-8860, Canada (877) 330-6366 to speak with hot line staff. “Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people.”