The week of September 6 through 12 marks National Suicide Prevention Week, a time when all of us should confront a taboo subject that has impacted the lives of more people than many of us care to acknowledge. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential helpline (866.4.U.TREVOR), in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and public policy advocacy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, and the third leading cause of death among all people ages 15 to 24. Additionally, research has shown that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers – a tragic outcome of the way so many young people are treated in their homes, schools, communities and religious institutions. Consider this brief story about a college student who reached out to The Trevor Helpline a few months ago:

“Mike,” a 19-year-old college student, called The Trevor Helpline expressing feelings of depression, loneliness and conflict over coming out to the people who matter the most to. He called us after having just come out to his first friend at college, and said that it had gone better than he imagined. Those good feelings were short-lived though, as Mike struggled to understand how hard this would be with other friends and family members. He is an active member of many on-campus groups, including a fraternity and the student government. Mike said he was extremely unhappy because he couldn’t be himself in front of everyone, and felt like opening up about his sexuality was his only shot at happiness. He was especially concerned about reactions from his family, and felt that everyone in his life would treat him differently once he came out to them. Our helpline counselor worked with Mike to take this tough process just one step at a time and encouraged him to not rush through anything. Coming out is a tough process, and it is one that can be incredibly emotionally taxing on a college-aged person who may not yet know how to cope with the overwhelming emotions.

Though Mike’s story is unique and difficult in its own way, Mike is not alone in his struggles with sexuality during college. Many people in college go through very difficult times as they navigate their journeys of self-discovery. Academic pressures, the desire to feel accepted and validated by peers, looking for love – these are all typical experiences in college that can be compounded by issues related to gender identity and sexuality. That’s why it is so vital that wonderful organizations such as Campus Pride exist to help make college spaces more accepting and safe for LGBTQ students. The Trevor Project is proud to partner with Campus Pride on a variety of issues.

During this important week of awareness, please remember to keep the programs and services offered by The Trevor Project in mind if you know someone who may be in crisis. Beyond The Trevor Helpline, we also offer online support with the “Dear Trevor” program and through TrevorSpace, our premier social networking site for LGBTQ youth and their allies (www.TrevorSpace.org). To learn about the warning signs of suicide and to find more information about our programs and resources, visit us online at TheTrevorProject.org.