YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
YOUR FEELINGS ARE REAL
Suicidal thoughts can be beaten! They are distorted information taking over your thinking when you are feeling down.
- Loneliness
- Isolation
- Fear
- Regret
- Rejection
You may be experiencing these feelings, especially after coming out. Name calling and bullying in school, at home or in the community can only make these feelings worse.
It is now understood that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth between the ages of 15-24 are at an increased risk of suicide compared to others.
It has been estimated that gays, lesbians, and bisexual youth attempt suicide at a higher rate than their heterosexual peers.
Suicide is almost always a desperate act by someone who feels helpless and hopeless. Suicidal feelings and thoughts are a frequent symptom of depression.
Sexual and gender minority youth are at a high risk of suicide largely because of how our society is focussed on heterosexuals.
At your age you are seeking your identity and establishing sexual/emotional intimacy in relationships yet heterosexual youth have their feelings, identities, and relationships acknowledged and validated. It is not that way for you.
The resources that might help you find your identity and establish intimacy are non-existent in most places, scarce in others.
You face real dangers to your emotional and physical well-being
- Harassment,
- Threats of violence,
- Physical/sexual assaults by peers,
- Physical bullying and cyberbullying,
- The slurs, insults and jokes.
These all make it an even greater challenge to come to love yourself and have good self-esteem.
You may hate yourself and feel real pain which may lead to a greater risk of abusing alcohol and other drugs as a means of numbing those feelings. DON’T.
Your Feelings Are Real
Suicidal thoughts can be beaten! They are distorted information taking over your thinking when you are feeling down.
If none of this helps seek emergency help, call 000 immediately.
We care and want to be a support to you. Understand, that life gets better, so Hold On To Life and reach out for help.