Britni Danielle

Education

This Group Is Tackling LGBTQ Youth Suicide Rates, One Text Message At A Time

“It's a really critical issue for LGBTQ young people, and it's even more pressing and alarming in the current political climate.”

Growing up can be tough . Between school, parental pressure, raging adolescent hormones, and trying to fit in, young people often feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. In the last few years, suicide surpassed homicide to become the second leading cause of death for teenagers, and its rise has been felt across nearly every demographic, especially women and girls . While there are a myriad of factors that lead a person to take their own life, there’s one group that’s having an even tougher time than their peers: LGBTQ youth.

“Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people are almost five times as likely to attempt suicide as their straight peers,” says Amit Paley, chief executive officer and executive director of The Trevor Project , an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ people under 25.

Keep Reading Show less