The Struggle Of LGBTQ+ Youth

As an LGBTQ+ student at PSA I have seen a lot of homophobia on campus. I have personally seen kids here bawl their eyes out because they don’t feel accepted because the people around them treat them horribly. Being LGBTQ+, half the time we’re not even accepted by our families and now we can’t even be accepted at school? That genuinely concerns me for the future of our generation. Individuals who are LGBTQ+ deal with a lot of things internally. On Mental Health America’s website, research suggests that LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Mental Health America is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all LGBTQ+ youth. Mental health plays a huge part in being LGBTQ+ and study even found that LGBTQ+ people used mental health services at 2.5 times higher rates than their “straight” counterparts. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide.

You’re probably thinking right now, “How do I offer my support to an LGBTQ+ student?” Here are a few things you can do to help: let them know that they’re accepted, offer support, even if you don’t ask for help, and ask questions like “How are you doing?” and “Is everything okay?” Be actively trying to help. Having them know that you care means so much to that individual and can help improve their mental health significantly. I want PSA to be as accepting as they say they are. I hope we can all work together to make PSA a safe place for all.