As The New Civil Rights Movement reported just yesterday, four teens in one Pennsylvania County succumbed to suicide in the space of a week this month, and there are, sadly, tragically, others in our report as well. But the truth that is too often ignored is that thousands of teens — gay, straight, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, questioning — commit suicide each year, which means every single day we lose several teens to suicide.
The Trevor Project, which exists to help teens, especially LGBTQ teens, in crisis, has declared today The Trevor Project Day. If you are in a position to help them financially, I hope you’ll consider making a donation. Please share this information among your friends, family, co-workers, and social networks.
Visit the Trevor Project online, at their “Talk To Me” website, on Facebook, via Twitter. The Trevor Project has a 24-hour hotline for gay and questioning youth: 866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386)
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Via a press release:
Today, The Trevor Project announces the expansion of its instant messaging program, TrevorChat to an additional day of service, Saturdays. The announcement coincides with “The Trevor Project Day,†the culminating day of action for the campaign for conversation, “Talk to Me,†and includes awareness events in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles where volunteers and supporters will gather with elected officials and celebrities for events to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Research indicates improving both help-seeking behaviors and access to care can have a dramatic effect on suicide prevention, a driving principle for both “Talk to Me†and the expansion of TrevorChat.
“The Trevor Project Day is about taking steps to help prevent suicide, and we are so excited to do that by expanding TrevorChat to an additional day of service. Helping someone can be as easy as saying three simple words like, ‘talk to me’ to a friend or loved one. By talking about suicide, you can not only make it easier to ask for and to offer help, but it is also recommended by latest National Strategy for Suicide Prevention,†said Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO. “On ‘Trevor Day’ we also recognize our volunteers, supporters, partners and staff who work every day to save lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.â€
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth as young as age 10 through age 24[ii], and lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth attempt suicide at rates 3 to 4 times greater than straight youth. For 14 years, The Trevor Project has operated the only national suicide prevention lifeline service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth, expanding to instant messaging services through TrevorChat in 2010. Until today, TrevorChat operated on Friday and Monday evenings. Beginning on Saturday, Sept. 29, service will expand to 3 nights per week, with expansion to 7 service days planned by summer 2013.
“Talk to Me,†found at TrevorTalkToMe.org, has engaged youth and adults in a multi-faceted public awareness campaign to prevent suicide throughout September. Highlights have included a youth-oriented Google+ Hangout with Daniel Radcliffe on Sept. 16, a public service announcement featuring Kevin McHale of TV’s hit show,Glee, and recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, (Sept. 9 -15) and World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10).
The Trevor Project Day activities will occur in Los Angeles at 9:30 am (8704 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite #200);  in San Francisco at City Hall (Polk St. stairs) at 9:30 am; and in New York City’s Union Square Park (South side, near 14th St.) at 6:00 pm. Guests and attendees to include Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Scott Weiner of San Francisco, actors Zachary Quinto, Missi Pyle and Jessica Lu, and members of the New York City Council.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people under 24. Every day The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline and instant messaging service, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. Honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change,†The Trevor Project is a leader and innovator in suicide prevention. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.