A Cry for Help: Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community Who are Feeling Suicidal

If you are feeling lost, alone, and suicidal, know that you are not alone. The Trevor Project is here for you. They are the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

If you need someone to talk to outside of the Trevor Project, there are many other suicide hotlines available 24/7 that can help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

No one deserves to feel like they cannot go on living. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

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Warning Signs - You might be feeling suicidal if:

• You talked about wanting to die or hurting yourself
• You’re looking for ways to kill yourself
• You’re talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• You’re talking about being a burden to others
• You increase your use of drugs or alcohol
• You withdraw from friends and activities
• You abnormal mood swings      
• Your sleeping patterns change (either you can’t sleep or you sleep all the time)
• You give away prized possessions
• Your eating habits change (either you have no appetite or you can’t stop eating)
• You exhibit reckless behavior
• You have trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
• You don’t take care of yourself like you used to

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These warning signs are merely guidelines; please trust your gut if something feels off with your mental state. If any of these warning signs apply to you or someone close to you, please seek help as soon as possible.   Brainstorm a list of people who support you—this could include friends, family members, teachers, coaches, clergy members, etc. Once you have this list jotted down somewhere safe, reflect on why each person made the list. This will help remind you that people do care about you even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes.

When nothing else seems to help, try reaching out to one of these emergency services:

• Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386
• Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988
• Crisis Text Line by texting “HOME” to 741741 in the US

If none of these resources seem like they would work for you for whatever reason, that is okay too! Sometimes it helps just to talk to someone who will listen without judgment; try reaching out to a friend or family member that you trust. Just remember that people are fighting for your life even when it feels like giving up is the only option left.

Crisis Resources:

• Trevor Lifeline
• Trans Lifeline
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Crisis Text Line

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