Combating the nationwide LGBTQI+ youth of color mental health crisis.

Overview:

On June 23, 2023, the Biden-Harris administration announced action steps to protect LGBTQI+ communities. We are facing a nationwide mental health crisis, and almost half of LGBTQI+ youth report that they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. The Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people, conducted a national survey in 2024 highlights the experiences of over 18,000 LGBTQ+ young people aged 13 to 24 across the United States. For those youth who identify as LGBTQI+ and a person of color, the survey noted that:

• Nearly all LGBTQ+ young people of color reported higher rates of attempting suicide than their white peers in the past year.
• Across race/ethnicity, Native/Indigenous youth who are Two-Spirit/LGBTQ+ consistently report the highest suicide risk.
• Black transgender and nonbinary young people report disproportionate rates of suicide risk — with 58% seriously considering suicide and 1 in 4 (25%) attempting suicide in the past year.

In this Roundtable, panelists will discuss the growing crisis of suicide among LGBTQI+ youth of color and how education, outreach, and advocacy can help address this public health crisis.

Learning Objectives
• Describe shifting trends for suicide among LGBTQI+ youth of color.
• Identify suicide risk factors in LGBTQI+ youth of color.
• Discuss existing evidence for prevention and implement interventions for LGBTQI+ youth of color.