Tag Archives: The Trevor Projet

We recognize that coming out regarding sexual or gender identity is a deeply personal journey and it can be a challenging and intimidating process without the proper support. In honor of this significant milestone and as we approach National Coming Out Day on October 11th, OCF is offering a new session titled, “Thinking About Coming Out” designed for facilitators of Girls Circle®, Unity Circle®, and The Council for Boys and Young Men®. Read More...

Report after report and a seemingly endless stream of articles have recently been released showing that youth and teen mental health is in crisis. Persistent sadness, hopelessness, and attempts of suicide are up across the board, and the numbers increase for youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and ...

Adolescence can be a difficult time. Trying to develop independence, finding yourself, body changes and first loves. For me I had a wonderful childhood, however, when adolescence hit, things changed. I tried to fit in and experience all the things I was SUPPOSED to according to society's norms. Those experiences didn't work for me, and I thought there was something wrong with me. My way of dealing with it was to use drugs, alcohol and engage in self-destructive behaviors. There were no support groups, no one to talk to about my confusion. I went on through my teens and twenties struggling to fit in. At the age of 28 I kissed a woman and my life changed...

Articles continue to pop up on my newsfeed about how the pandemic has been detrimental to the mental health of many, especially young people. The isolation, lack of connection with peers, and the uptick in violence within homes and racism within communities during the last 2+ years have led to a mental health crisis for youth.  According to the 2021 CDC Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) of 7,705 high school students, nearly half reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless and experienced emotional abuse in the home, while The Trevor Project’s 2021 Survey showed that 70% of LGBTQ+ youth stated that their mental health was “poor” most of the time or always during COVID-19.  In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) declared a national emergency in children's mental health. AAP President, Gabrielle A. Carlson said, “We are caring for young people with soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting