LGBTQ+ Youth Resources
LGBTQ+ youth often feel alone. One of their biggest health and safety risk factors is a lack of family support and acceptance, and teachers and school administrators that are not creating safe and inclusive spaces for their students. Bullying has become a major problem for some LGBTQ+ kids both in-person and online, and many schools don’t have established policies in place to protect them. Here are some facts:
- LGBTQ+ teens face external challenges such as stigmatization, prejudice, and rejection by family.
- Their rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts are higher than the national average among teens.
- Parents and other family members can make a meaningful difference in an LGBTQ+ teen’s life by respecting pronouns, trusting they know who they are, and ensuring they find gender-affirming spaces.
- Gender-responsive, culturally competent mental health services can help teens build the coping skills and resilience that support them to thrive and be their true self.
There are many organizations and services throughout Bergen County where LGBTQ+ youth can find caring and inclusive environments which offer support:
LGBTQ+ Education
GLSEN
Website: https://www.glsen.org/
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in school. They advise on, advocate for, and research comprehensive policies designed to protect LGBTQ+ students and make certain that they are treated with respect without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression. GLSEN strives to create school settings that value differences, free from bullying and harassment and to transform our nation’s schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.
LGBTQ+ Life in College: Identity, Belonging, and Support
Website:https://www.socialworkdegree.net/lgbtq-in-college-resources/
LGBTQ+ College Scholarships
