ay in herAs a lesbian, I have become aware of the struggles involved in being an LGBTQ youth in our present society. This brought me to ask the following research question, “Are LGBTQ youth excessively affected by mental illness?” LGBTQ youth face more negative outcomes due to prejudice and other biases. To prevent LGBTQ youth to face infamous society, programs and support can be introduced. “Support from educators, schools, parents and the community can be improved their mental health condition” (Greenblatt). Mental health is a condition we all have. Every age, gender, and race. It shouldn’t be affected by nobody or nothing. Unfortunately, it can be affected by the loss of a loved one, or a heart break, or an argument. It all can be controlled, prevented or aided in many ways.
As teenagers grow up, they experience many unbalanced issues. Like containing a job, school and school work, family issues, and most likely a relationship. However, LGBTQ youth experience the issues of a teenager ALSO the issues of being who they are. Youth is the time frame between childhood and adulthood. LGBTQ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning. There are more categories that it refers to but these are the most affected and known. This research project combines all of these terms in order to examine the mental health of a specific population: LGBTQ youth and ways to help them. One person who commits suicide is one too many.
One LGBTQ person who commits suicide is one too many. There are many stories, many publications, articles, videos that discuss another suicide by another LGBTQ teen. It keeps increasing. They are more likely to commit suicide than a heterosexual teen. At 15 years old, Billy Lucas was a high school student from Indiana who suffered severed bullying. He was bullied for seeming like he was gay. He decided to take his own life. He was not a part of the LGBTQ community but was still bullied for seeming like he was. That’s a problem. The LGBTQ community clearly has a higher risk of suicide. Mental health professionals say it’s because they lack support. LGBTQ youth have a difficult time coming out to their family members because they fear rejection. They fear not being accepted into their homes and fear of getting kicked out their house. They fear coming out in school because of bullying, with a chance of some of their peers not accepting them. Victimization and parents’ negative reactions to their child’s sexual identification contribute to mental health conditions, especially suicidal ideation. Jeffrey Fehr was a 19 year old man who hanged himself on Christmas Day at the entrance of his family home. He left a note saying he received a gift of torture and abuse because he liked men and he would like to give a “gift” back. He experienced neglect, abuse, and the feeling of being unloved. Unloved by his closest people in his life. We need to end the tragedy of LGBTQ youth suicide. According to the CDC, LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. A hotline needs to be created or improved. Teens need to feel safe. One person that talks to a youth that feels isolated can make a difference. Most LGBTQ youth are feeling vulnerable, looking for support and/or are questioning their sexuality. We need safer schools and role models. So in order for that not to happen, we need to help a youth find their sense of purpose and belonging that resonates who they are.
By being LGBTQ, one grows up and is raised in a world that sees him/her as a second class citizen. They sometimes feel as though that they don’t belong in a certain place because they know that not everyone is accepting of them, researchers say. That has a negative impact on one’s self esteem. “According to researchers, many youth find that they can avoid some of the negative impact of the stigma directed towards them if they conform, usually by staying silent about their sexuality” (Kenworthy). However, staying silent is damaging to the person’s self image. When a person is hiding in the closet for a period of time, it shows that they’re in an unsafe world. By constantly believing that they’re in an unsafe environment, it can cause hypervigilance which increases depression and/or anxiety. Unfortunately, some LGBTQ youth has experienced violence that was perpetuated because of their sexuality identification. It turns out that 2 out of 8 LGBTQ youth has experienced violence due to their gender preference. Not every LGBTQ youth has dealt with difficult things. Not every LGBTQ adolescent that went through a situation went through the same thing. Some are proportionately affected than others. Though many people have positive attitudes towards the LGBTQ community, there are still some people that still face unequal treatment and care due to the lack of knowledge of those around them.
Tyler Clementi was an eighteen year old student at Rutgers University. Tyler was gay and became a victim of cyberbullying. His roommate betrayed him by setting up a webcam to spy on him. Tyler committed suicide and ended his talented life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Tyler’s death featured the impacts of bullying. The Tyler Clementi Foundation was born and it demonstrated a desperate need of the issue. It addressed the need of LGBTQ populations in hostile social environments. “Our theory of change is that progress can be made through education, advocacy and research.” (Tyler Clementi). The Tyler Clementi Foundation’s mission is to end cyberbullying and end bullying in schools as well.
Nothing is compared to the feeling of abuse, isolation, and abandonment many LGBTQ youth feel from their own parents/guardians. Parents can look out for signs from their own children. Most children won’t come out directly and say “I’m going to kill myself.” They will probably say “There won’t be a tomorrow.” “It’s called failed communication.” (Mogul) If this do happens, parents or anyone surrounding the individual should comment on it immediately. Parents that talk to their child and understand can help the child feel loved and supported. Parents should have honest conversations and talk openly with their teen. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to have tough conversations. Another sign a parent can look for is a sense of agitation. Agitation signs can factor to loss of sleep, very irritable, racing thoughts.
Schools can prevent bullying and harassment by encouraging respect, have Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs). Having a positive school environment can lead to less suicidal thoughts, less unexcused absences, and low substance of drugs and alcohol. Schools can also do a pledge for a safer environment to create that sense of school being a safe place. Youth can also receive help and comfort in the school setting. “A GSA club is a student run club in a high school or middle school that brings together LGBTQI+ and straight students to support each other, provide a safe place to socialize, and create a platform to fight for racial, gender, LGBTQ, and economic justice.” (Our Approach). Youth who attend GSAs in school have reported fewer remarks and also feel safer. The It Gets Better Project is a movement that has inspired thousands of teens to talk about their personal issues through videos. Their mission is to communicate to LGBT youth globally and to motivate them and the vital changes needed to make it safer for them. By creating inclusive environments for LGBTQ teens can be serious to lecture behavior in school. GSAs and other supporting clubs can be supported by the school district, educators and staff. The dropout rate for LGBTQ students is 3x the national average. They don’t want to go to school. Especially to a place that has only deprived them of their dignity.
Training throughout the states should be required. By allowing this, it can increase engagement, health services for the LGBTQ community across every factor; race, gender, and location. It should definitely provide services and focus on every category of LGBTQ (lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning). It can approach mental health of LGBTQ communities. Funding should also be distributed evenly to expand a nationwide service guide with programs and resources.
LGBTQ peer counseling is very important because it’s important to have a sense of community. Knowing that they have people that are similar to them, they can feel connected. They can simply talk about things to one another that they never shared to no one. It’s that urge of feeling safe. By peer counseling, they are receiving reciprocal support. Majority of the issues revolve around coming out. “The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 1324” (Trevor Project). The Trevor Project offers programs and services for every LGBTQ youth. They create safe and accepting services online, on the phone, and even through text. They also have suicide prevention training like the Trevor Care Training that trains adults on how to respond to certain situations, the Trevor Lifeguard Workshop that is a free online course that offers additional resources for schools and educators. The Trevor Project also offers community services like the TrevorSpace which is a safe social media for LGBTQ individuals that are ages 13-24. However, The It Gets Better Project was developed to encourage and display young LGBTQ teens about the potential their lives will fulfill. The It Gets Better Project communicates to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer and questioning in many ways. It reminds them that it WILL get better.
We were all children at one point. We are all human. We are all citizens. We are people. We are youth. These kids are just trying to have a life. One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lost is a crisis. Our society continues to let this happen. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can’t let intolerance and ignorance take another individual’s life. Teenagers should not be condemned to a life of mistreatment and isolation. Having lived through it, is not anything you see glamorizing in the media, suicide is the one of the worst possible outcome and decision a person can make. It destroys many other lives. A day in our shoes shows it. Things will get easier and people minds will change. Love can change everything. Support can change everything. Understanding can change everything.