Help for Suicidal LGBT Teens
Tuesday April 29, 2008
Since 1987, studies has shown that LGBT youth are more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Despite all the progress that we have made as a culture, youth coming to terms with their sexuality still struggle with feelings of isolation, depression and fear of social stigmas. Those who are at the greatest risk of suicide are those who have never revealed their sexual orientation to anyone else.
That's the bad news. The good news is that there is help for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans youth who feel being gay is too much of a burden to bear. The Trevor Helpline is the only national crisis and suicide prevention helpline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Find out more about The Trevor Project and how suicidal teens can get help.
© Photo by juri Staikov
Jodie Foster did donate a bigger sum for the Trevor Project, didnt she? Must be only several months ago, at the maximum.
A very dedicated, reasonable and helpful project!
Is any of such help offered in Asian countries like Singapore?
I’m an ‘out and proud’ gay woman who had the bad experience of working in a homophobic university last year as a lecturer. My Head of School banned me from revealing my sexuality to anyone – including staff. We had a number of gay students. One young man I’m sure is gay had gotten to the point of such low self-esteem that he was sabotaging his accedemic career. I couldn’t help him, because of the school’s policies – there was no GLBT services on campus, and no contact people like at other uni’s. In contrast a friend of mine is a gay woman at a different uni, she has a rainbow flag on her door and is on the net as a contact point for students struggling because of sexuality (same profession and same subject area as me). I know who’s students are better off. I left.
Although not exclusively for the LGBT community I would suggest that anyone experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide contact the Samaritans. I am lesbian and have volunteered there for 10 years. We have over 200 branches in the UK, and many in other countries worldwide, and anyone from any country can write to us for support in COMPLETE confidence at: jo@samaritans.org.uk A volunteer will then email you back usually within 24 hours.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress PLEASE talk to someone. You can find all the ways of contacting Samaritans by going to: http://www.samaritans.org/talk_to_someone.aspx The service is free, completely confidential, non-judgemental, and non-religious (despite the connotations of the name – thought I’d better point that out!).
Please don’t feel completely isolated – there is someone out there x