Reaching Out to GLBT Youth within the Middlesex County / New Jersey Area “BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD”

Statistics (Live in the Truth) In America, more than 32,000 people die by suicide each year (2005 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Suicide is one of the Top 3 causes of death among 15 to 24-year-olds; only accidents and homicide occur more frequently (2006 National Adolescent Health Information).

Suicide is the 2 nd leading cause of death among college campuses (2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

For every completed suicide by a young person, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey).

GLBT and questioning youth are up to 4x’s more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey).

GLBT and questioning youth who come from a rejecting family are up to 9x’s more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (2007 San Francisco State University Chavez Center Institute).

How Does This Happen? A tendency toward isolation and social withdrawal

Substance abuse

Expression of negative attitudes toward self

Expression of hopelessness or helplessness

Loss of interest in usual activities

Victimization provoked by their sexual orientation (verbal abuse, threats of physical violence, etc.)

How Can WE Help? The Trevor Project is a non-profit endeavor established to promote acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group.

The Trevor Project© TrevorSpace© is an online, social networking community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 13 through 24, and their friends and allies.

The Trevor Lifeguard Workshop Program was developed to help young people: Become more aware of the issues surrounding sexuality and gender identity Promote acceptance of GLBT youth nationwide as well as teach young people the warning signs of suicide as well as how to respond to those warning signs.

Project Volunteers help in various ways: Assisting the Program Department with outreach efforts to schools and youth service providers around the county so that they may refer young people in crisis to The Trevor Helpline Becoming a counselor on The Trevor Helpline, the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for GLBT

After coming out I was kicked out of my house Having no one to turn to I dropped out of college & moved into Manhattan w/$ to my name I felt like I had no one 17

I went from a solid “C” student in high school to a Middlesex County College I am confident enough to hold my head up high & meet my goals in spite of any discrimination I face I learned what it takes to be a good friend & a good person Angel 29

Who I could have been w/friends like YOU when I needed them most?

“Be the Change You Wish to See in the World”

Together we can accomplish anything: Thank You for your time