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LGBTQ+ youth: Your support matters

Did you know? LGBTQ+ youth are twice as likely to consider suicide as their straight peers-and four times as likely to attempt it. Those are just two of the many statistics that highlight the significant mental health challenges LGBTQ+ youth face. The good news? Your care and support can help LGBTQ+ kids survive and thrive.

Reviewed 5/29/2025

3 WAYS TO SHOW YOU CARE

Educate yourself.

Learn more about unique LGBTQ+ experiences and challenges. Take what you've learned and help educate others.

Create a safe space.

Offer unconditional love and acceptance. Affirm and respect LGBTQ+ kids' identities, and encourage others to do the same. And speak up for the LGBTQ+ youth in your life when they face adversity.

Check in often.

Talk openly with LGBTQ+ kids, and practice active listening. Notice signs of distress? Offer help. For instance, you might connect them to LGBTQ+-friendly mental health resources.

Sources

American Psychiatric Association. "Five Ways to Support LGBTQ+ Mental Health." https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/Five-Ways-to-Support-LGBTQ-Mental-Health.
Mental Health America. "LGBTQ+ Communities and Mental Health." https://mhanational.org/resources/lgbtq-communities-and-mental-health.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. "Using Our Voice to Protect the Mental Health of the LGBTQ+ Community." https://www.nami.org/advocate/using-our-voice-to-protect-the-mental-health-of-the-lgbtq-community.