Mental Health Resources: LGBTQ Resources

Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.

RECLAIM works to increase access to mental health support so that queer and transgender* youth may reclaim their lives from oppression in all its forms.

*We have chosen to use the term “queer and trans youth” because this is how the youth we work with overwhelmingly self-identify and prefer to be named. Self-determination—including the power to define oneself—is a heavy source of both historical oppression and survival/resistance/healing. For many youth in our communities, the term LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) is a label that has been put on them, while the terms “queer” and “trans” are chosen and preferred.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth and those perceived as LGBT are at an increased risk of being bullied. There are important and unique considerations for strategies to prevent and address bullying of LGBT youth.

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are members of every community. They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socioeconomic statuses, and from all parts of the country. The perspectives and needs of LGBT people should be routinely considered in public health efforts to improve the overall health of every person and eliminate health disparities.

SAMHSA's LGBT-focused efforts include encouraging States to consider LGBT needs in administering their SAMHSA Block Grants resources, promoting a sexual and gender minority focus in funding announcements where it is appropriate, supporting creation of sexual orientation questions for HHS national surveys, and providing ongoing leadership to help stop bullying of LGBT youth that includes significant participation in the development of the LGBT section for StopBullying.gov, a major resource for helping victims, potential victims and their families, and for raising public awareness.