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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.