LGBTQ+ youth are among the most vulnerable when it comes to mental health at any given point but may be especially so after this past year of turbulence and loss. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that youth identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are twice as likely to experience symptoms of mental illness compared to their heterosexual peers while transgender and non-binary youth are at a four times greater risk. Further, these children often cannot even begin to address their mental health as they are faced with additional discriminatory barriers such as dramatically increased risk for homelessness and lack of culturally appropriate healthcare. Nevertheless, Resilient Georgia firmly believes that where adversity arises, so too arises the opportunity for building resilience. Since we know that having just one supportive figure drastically reduces risk for suicide, it is imperative that we all work personally to become that person for an LGBTQ+ child. AMAZE’s youth-targeted initiatives provide LGBTQ+ age-appropriate inclusive sex education that can assist parents and educators in initiating a respectful and informative conversation about sexual orientation and gender identity. For healthcare providers seeking to administer better care for young LGBTQ+ patients, this guide by the American Academy of Pediatrics provides clinical instruction through compiled resources and videos that model inclusive language and practices.
Although offering support is absolutely transformative, it doesn’t always negate many of the unique structural challenges LGBTQ+ youth face. We’d also like to amplify the work of national and Georgia-based organizations providing real-time resources for LGBTQ+ youth while also empowering them to see queerness as a beautiful strength. Nationally, The Trevor Project has a great page of resources and guides supporting kids who identify as LGBTQ+. For those located in Georgia, this list of resources curated by Georgia Equality includes numerous legal and personal supports for LGBTQ+ individuals. Lost-n-Found Youth is another wonderful Georgia-based organization connecting LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness in Georgia with safe and supportive housing. Finally, this bi-weekly youth-centered group Trans and Friends is creating a resilient and informed group of transgender kids and allies in Atlanta through conversation and activism. At Resilient Georgia, we hope our work empowers and supports the LGBTQ+ community at all times, not just during Pride month, but we recognize the end of this month as a wonderful opportunity to reflect on creating an environment where LGBTQ+ children can thrive.
ABOUT US: Resilient Georgia is a statewide coalition of more than 100 partners committed to building a stronger, more resilient Georgia. Through a network of public and private partners, Resilient Georgia is creating a pipeline of trauma-informed behavioral health services and resources that support child and family wellness. This integrated system includes prevention, early intervention, research, advocacy and policy, and System of Care implementation and coordination. For more information about our work, check out the Resilient Georgia website. You can also find us on social media: @resilientgeorgia on Instagram and @resilientga on Facebook.
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