Introduction

Who is this for?
This toolkit was developed to help the parents and caretakers of LGBTQIA2S+ youth—especially transgender youth—recognize the risk factors for and symptoms of mental health challenges in young people.

In an ideal world, each person facing mental health challenges would have access to mental health professionals like counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Unfortunately, that isn’t our reality. In the real world, therapy is not accessible to everyone, counselors have long wait lists, and there are an infinite number of barriers to getting professional help. For all these reasons, and for the caretakers who just want more information, we’ve compiled resources on suicide prevention, responding to self-injury, having difficult conversations, and more.

Background
Young queer people across the U.S. are struggling. Over the past decade, the
CDC has reported steadily worsening mental health among all young people
and an increase in suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts.¹ On top of that, the
past few years have seen an exponential rise in attacks on the LGBTQIA2S+
community with violent rhetoric, anti-LGBTQIA2S+ propaganda, and political
violence.² These factors, combined with the isolation of the COVID-19
pandemic, can trigger feelings and thoughts of not belonging, despair, and
depression in LGBTQIA2S+ young people.

Toolkit Preview:

Here is what you can expect to find in this toolkit:
1. Strategies for taking care of yourself in order to care for others
2. Difficulties young queer people are up against and the impact it may have on them
3.Warning signs that a child may be suicidal and what steps you can take to care for them
4. Warning signs that a child may be self-injuring and what steps you can take to care for them
5. Advice for navigating difficult conversations and where to begin
6. Worksheets and other resources you can use

The topics we will cover are heavy, complicated, and can be upsetting for
many people. We recommend you read this do so on your own time, at your
own pace, and check in with yourself throughout.