Supporting LGBTQ+ Teens’ Mental Health

mental health has no face

Mental Health Awareness Month

LGBTQ+ teens are at greater risk for suicide due to mistreatment and social stigmatization they experience.  During Mental Health Awareness Month, the Y is raising awareness about mental health, sharing resources, and encouraging conversations to help individuals understand how they can care for themselves as well as others. Check out the tab at the Teen Mental Health Resource Hub for mental health resources for LGBTQ+ communities. And take a few minutes to review this data that BrightPath Behavioral Health shared.
 

  • In 2022, 74% of North Carolina LGBTQ youth and 81% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported symptoms of anxiety.
     
  • 60% of LGBTQ youth and 70% of North Carolina transgender and nonbinary teenagers (aged 13 to 17) experienced symptoms of depression.
     
  • In 2022 58% of LGBTQ youth in North Carolina who sought mental health care in the past year were unable to access it. This was because they were afraid to talk about their mental health concerns, they didn’t want to get their parent’s permission, they could not afford it, they were afraid they wouldn’t be taken seriously, and or thought it wouldn’t work.
     
  • In 2022, 46% of LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 17 in North Carolina seriously considered suicide, because of discrimination of sexual orientation or gender identity that negatively impacted their well-being.
     
  • About 12% of LGBTQ teenagers and 15% of transgender/nonbinary teenagers in the state attempted suicide in 2022.

Call or text 988 for Suicide & Crisis LIfeline, or contact NAMI NC's "warmline" in non-emergency situations Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm, call 800-451-9682 or text 919-999-6527, email helplline@naminc.org
(May 8, 2024)

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthHasNoFace #TeenMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters