Members of the LGBTQ+ community matter. Photo courtesy of Harvard School of Public Health.

  There are approximately 3.2 million LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of eight and 18, which means there are a significant number of LGBTQ+ students at San Luis Obispo High School.

  Unfortunately, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youths in the United States have seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 86% of LGBTQ+ youth have reported being harassed or assulted at school. Though SLOHS admin are diligent and try to make all students on campus feel safe, not everyone does.

  Being in the LGBTQ+ community means experiencing many challenges. Even if it feels like you have to go through things alone, you don’t.

  If a student or someone else is having a hard time on campus, there are various resources that can help. If school counselors don’t seem like a viable option, there are some LGBTQ+-specific resources that are available 24/7.

  These include online resources such as the It Gets Better Project and Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, as well as crisis resources like The Trevor Project, Trans Hotline, and the LGBT National Youth Talkline. These resources will be linked below.

  If you or someone close to you is struggling with mental health, just know that it’s completely valid to be having a hard time, and even if it sounds cliche, things will get better eventually. Reach out for help if you need it, that’s what resources are there for.

Links: thetrevorproject.org, translifeline.org, glbthotline.org, itgetsbetter.org, www.glsen.org

Sources: nbcnews.com, lgbtmap.org, hsph.harvard.edu