NEW YORK, September 3, 2024 – Today, The Trevor Project and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced that they’re joining forces to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people across rural America. Through a $5 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the two organizations will develop a targeted multimedia campaign to raise awareness of the public health crisis of LGBTQ+ youth suicide.
It is estimated that every 45 seconds, at least one LGBTQ+ young person in the United States attempts to take their own life. The multimedia campaign will shed light on the issue, connect young people with the crisis care they need and encourage everyone to do their part to combat this undeniable crisis.
No one should feel isolated simply because of who they are, yet the LGBTQ+ community is too often met with hostility, said Walter Panzirer (he/him), Trustee at The Helmsley Charitable Trust.
“Protecting the lives of young people should not be viewed as political or controversial; it should be something that we all support,” Panzirer said. “I look forward to collaborating with The Trevor Project to spread awareness of the serious challenges LGBTQ+ youth face and let them know that help, support and resources are available to help them thrive.”
The grant will fund public service announcements, social media blasts and traditional advertising, initially in the states supported by Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program — Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The funding will also provide The Trevor Project’s public training team with the resources needed to deliver 50 trainings to youth-serving organizations in Helmsley’s nine-state rural footprint, building LGBTQ+ cultural competency among youth-serving adults. These trainings will be orchestrated in the counties and regions that report higher rates of suicide among young people.
“We are thrilled to partner with The Helmsley Charitable Trust on this critical endeavor to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people in rural regions at a time when they may need it most,” said Jaymes Black (they/she/he), Chief Executive Officer at The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research has consistently shown that LGBTQ+ young people are at higher risk for suicide compared to their peers, and we have a lot of work to do to connect them with the support they need. This work is especially crucial as we consider the unique barriers that exist for young people in many communities across the nine states. Together, we look forward to decreasing stigma, educating youth-serving adults, and making it possible for LGBTQ+ young people to lead the happy, fulfilling lives they deserve.”
LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers, and The Trevor Project’s National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People by State found this crisis is particularly severe in rural America. In Montana, 55 percent of LGBTQ+ youth considered suicide in the past year, compared to 45 percent nationwide. In South Dakota, 19 percent of LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 14 percent nationwide.
Access to mental health care remains a considerable barrier for LGBTQ+ young people in rural areas. For example, 72 percent of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed in Nevada and 62 percent in North Dakota said they wanted mental health care in the past year and were not able to get it, compared to 60 percent nationally.
The multipronged campaign will spread awareness of these suicide risk disparities by amplifying the stories of real LGBTQ+ youth, helping them destigmatize their identities and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. Initially, the campaign will feature The Trevor Project’s video series, ‘Learn with Love’ and ‘Sharing Space,’ marketing them directly toward individuals in the selected states. In a second phase, new videos will be created to further elevate the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities.
The campaign will launch in 2025.
###
About The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. Trevor offers 24/7 crisis services, connecting highly trained counselors with LGBTQ+ young people whenever they need support. To drive prevention efforts, The Trevor Project also operates robust research, advocacy, education, and peer support programs. The Trevor Project envisions a world where all LGBTQ+ young people feel safe, seen, and accepted exactly as they are.
About The Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $700 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories. For more information, visit helmsleytrust.org.
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
###
Contact: Dirk Lammers, dirk@ceteraservices.com