From Surviving To Thriving

Have you ever felt lonely, isolated, stuck, or like you didn’t belong
 with peers or family? Gender and sexuality can be a very silent and
 painful experience that many people struggle with daily. These
struggles can manifest in different ways for various people
including difficulties making and maintaining friendships,
discrimination in school or work settings, and acceptance of self.
According to The Trevor’s Project’s 2022 National Survey on
LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, 73% of LGBTQ+ youth reported
experiencing symptoms of anxiety and 58% for symptoms of
depression. As you can see, these percentages display a concerning
level of discomfort and have increased by roughly 5% since 2020.
Although the importance of mental health is on the rise, we still
live in a world that has stigmatized and underestimated the value
of receiving therapeutic services. Despite high rates, people who
identify as LGBTQ+ are less likely to want to attend counseling
due to stigma and fear of mistreatment (Shawn Manson, MA,
LPCC Health Partners). Therefore, some people don’t have anyone
in their lives to listen to them; so daily tasks can become more of a
burden. Unfortunately, in this process, some people experience
immense amount of suffering to the point where they lose the will
to live. Research from Suicide Prevention Resource Center shows
a decrease in suicidal risk based on the top two protective factors
being effective behavioral health care and connectedness to
community.